'Cordial and excellent': Franjieh meets Bukhari in Yarze

Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari and Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh met Thursday at Bukhari's residence in Yarze.

The two sat in the garden after having breakfast to discuss the presidential crisis.

"The meeting was cordial and excellent," Franjieh tweeted after the meeting.

Franjieh, 57, a former lawmaker and minister close to Hezbollah and a personal friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is officially nominated for presidency by Hezbollah and Amal, although Hezbollah's ally the Free Patriotic Movement would not endorse him, and Hezbollah's opponents say they wouldn't attend a voting session that would elect Franjieh.

Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel who strongly opposes the election of Franjieh said Thursday after he met with Democratic Gathering bloc MP Wael Abou Faour that Frnajieh's visit to Bukhari is not a Saudi "Green light."

Bukhari has long said that his country doesn't want to interfere with the presidential file and doesn't endorse or oppose any candidate chosen by the Lebanese. He urged in all of his latest meetings with Lebanese leaders and MPs for a swift election of a president.