The Maronite church’s dismay over the French policy towards Lebanon was clearly reflected in the sermon of Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday, when he criticized the questions addressed by French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian to Lebanon’s MPs.

In remarks to ad-Diyar newspaper, Bkirki sources confirmed the dismay.

The discussions between Hezbollah and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil are “serious” and have reached “many common denominators,” informed sources said.

“The issue of the president is in its final stages, which means that an agreement has been reached on (Suleiman) Franjieh’s nomination,” the sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has accused caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri, without naming them, of obstructing gas exploration for years.

Transocean Barents drilling rig, which had arrived in Block 9 offshore Lebanon earlier this month, will start Thursday searching for gas.

The family of Elias Hasrouni, an ex-Lebanese Forces official who was abducted and killed in the southern town of Ain Ebel, on Wednesday met with caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi.

“The minister has information that is being followed up in the case and today we were reassured that things are on the right track to achieve justice,” the family said after the meeting.

An explosion was heard at dawn inside the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh in the southern city of Sidon, the state-run National News Agency said.

The explosion resulted from “a hand grenade that was hurled near a school belonging to the UNRWA agency in the camp’s al-Fawqani street,” NNA said, adding that the incident caused no casualties.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized Wednesday Lebanon's leaders who are calling for dialogue instead of electing a president.

"They are hiding behind dialogue and consensus, while there is only one constitutional solution," al-Rahi said, stressing that the solution is to elect a president in parliament.

Four years into its historic economic meltdown, Lebanon's political elites, masters at survival, are pushing for a recovery that would sidestep tough reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund.

Economic experts and former officials involved in designing Lebanon's original IMF-approved recovery plan in 2020 say the political leadership and associates in the banking sector are deliberately implementing a "shadow plan" to torpedo the deal and place the burden of bailing out the financial system on ordinary Lebanese who are already impoverished by the crisis.

Qatar has “strongly interfered” in a bid to “impede the ongoing dialogue between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement” through “offering incentives to FPM chief Jebran Bassil,” a media report said.

Doha wants to convince Bassil “not to engage in a settlement leading Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh to the Baabda Palace,” ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Hezbollah and Amal have reportedly responded to two questions, included in a letter that the French embassy had sent to the Lebanese MPs, regarding the required qualifications of the future president.

Al-joumhouria newspaper reported Tuesday that it had learned from the Shiite Duo's sources that Amal and Hezbollah have told French special presidential envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian that they will attend the dialogue.

Four residents of the town of Kahale on Tuesday headed to a military intelligence department to give their testimonies regarding the deadly clash with Hezbollah members on August 9.

A statement issued by Kahale’s municipality, residents and dignitaries said the four men testified as witnesses.