Arab and Gulf nations have given France a deadline to try to break the presidential deadlock in Lebanon and the latest Qatari initiative was a “message” to Paris, an Arab diplomat informed on the Lebanese file said.

“Should Paris fail to secure the success of its initiative in the next few weeks, there will be a Gulf-Arab initiative, because there is insistence on ending the presidential vacuum in Lebanon,” the diplomat told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

On Wednesday, thousands of civilians fled from Sudan to Saudi Arabia, including Lebanese nationals.

Whether they had spent only a short time in Sudan or built lives there over many years, they all voiced concern for what would become of friends, family and colleagues who remain in the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who will arrive in Beirut on Wednesday, might ask Tehran’s allies in Lebanon to consider ending their support for Suleiman Franjieh’s presidential nomination, media reports said.

While some believe that Abdollahian will throw his support behind the allies in their backing of Franjieh, others believe that the Iranian FM will ask allies to “start considering the possibility of ending their support for Franjieh if it is facing unworkable obstacles,” political sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat is still refusing to brush aside Christian forces’ rejection of Suleiman Franjieh’s presidential nomination, political sources said.

Jumblat is insisting on his stance for a “key consideration, which is that these blocs are essential partners in the Mount Lebanon Reconciliation” that was reached in the year 2000 between Druze and Christians, “and accordingly he does not want to endorse a settlement that would impose a president rejected by Christians, a move that might have major repercussions in Mount Lebanon,” the sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

MP and presidential candidate Michel Mouawad said Wednesday that the opposition will not allow the election of any candidate supported by the Axis of Defiance.

"They can threaten as much as they want," Mouawad said in a press conference, after he met with Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said Wednesday that the armed forces will take all the necessary measures with the Syrian refugees, as the ministers of Justice, Interior, Labor, Social and Foreign affairs, convened to discuss the refugee file.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired the meeting in the presence of the army chief, the Internal Security Forces chief, the Acting General Security chief, and the Presidency Secretary-General.

Lebanese authorities and a European judicial team on Tuesday agreed to exchange information about their separate corruption probes of Lebanon's Central Bank governor, officials said.

The announcement came during a visit by a European delegation from France, Germany, and Luxembourg — its third visit to Lebanon to interrogate suspects and witnesses in an ongoing investigation of Governor Riad Salameh and associates over several financial crimes.

The next ten days might witness a presidential “surprise” amid behind-the-scenes political contacts, political sources told the al-Anbaa news portal of the Progressive Socialist Party.

Informed sources meanwhile told ad-Diyar newspaper that the past seven days witnessed the emergence of a new presidential initiative.

Clutching overstuffed suitcases, bleary-eyed civilians including Lebanese described a harrowing escape from violence-wracked Sudan across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, sobbing at memories of air strikes and urban combat.

Elderly women in wheelchairs and babies asleep in their parents' arms were among nearly 200 people from 14 countries who disembarked from a naval frigate in the coastal city of Jeddah on Monday night after daring –- and draining –- journeys to safety.

Saudis are still taking their time before giving a final decision regarding the election of Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh, ad-Diyar newspaper said.

The daily added Tuesday that the Americans, for their part, do not prefer the election of Franjieh, and are not supportive of the French deal involving the election of Franjieh as president and the appointment of Nawaf Salam as premier.