AMAL MP Qassem Hashem defended on Thursday Speaker Nabih Berri against claims that he is hindering the election of a president and stressed that the Speaker has always sought for ending the vacuum at the top Christian post.

“Speaker Berri has never sought-after disruption, he has always worked to find a solution that ends the vacuum at the level of the presidency,” said Qassem in an interview to VDL (93.3).

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Hani al-Hajjar has given the orders to rearrest Sheikh Bassam al-Tarras, who was briefly held and then released before Eid al-Adha, in the case of the Ksara bombing that rocked the city of Zahle in August, al-Akhbar daily reported on Thursday.

In September, the General Security held Sheikh al-Tarras in accusations of meeting Islamic State members and the attack's mastermind during a visit to Turkey.

Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi warned Wednesday that ex-PM Saad Hariri would be committing "another strategic mistake" if he endorses Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun for the presidency.

A source close to Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh denied Wednesday a media report claiming that the Zgharta leader had received “threats” from the Syrian regime over his latest political activity.

The ceiling of a hall at the Mar Mikhail Church in Shiyyah collapsed on Wednesday during the presence of a number of ministers and MPs, a media report said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea announced Wednesday that the LF's endorsement of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun's presidential nomination was a “game changer” in the Lebanese political arena.

Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday lauded a statement issued earlier in the day by the Council of Maronite Bishops, noting that it “does not contradict” with the national dialogue agreements and the proposed “package deal.”

The Maronite Bishops Council voiced calls on Wednesday to abide by the constitution and elect a new head of state without imposing any prior conditions, the National News Agency reported.

During their monthly meeting in Diman under Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, they urged the political leaders to be up to their responsibility.

Al-Mustaqbal MP Ammar Houri said on Wednesday that MP Michel Aoun tried to polish up his image with al-Mustaqbal Movement, as he emphasized that a solution for the presidential file is in the hands of Hizbullah.

“Freeing the presidency file is in the hands of Hizbullah which does not want any candidate for the presidency, not even General (Michel) Aoun,” said Houri in an interview to VDL (100.5).

The General Security arrested several Syrian nationals in the southern town of Ain el-Dilb east of the city of Sidon accused of having links to terror groups in Syria, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The suspects were arrested for their involvement in terror groups and for violating the residency permit rules in Lebanon.