President Michel Suleiman is set to travel to France on Thursday where is expected to hold talks with his French counterpart Francois Hollande to highlight the importance of Lebanese-French ties and tackle the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, especially Syria, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.

Diplomatic sources said that Hollande will likely encourage Suleiman to maintain the government’s policy of distancing itself from the Syrian crisis.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expressed hope on Saturday that the perpetrators behind the assassination attempt against opposition MP Butros Harb may be found, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Informed sources revealed that fingerprints at the scene of the failed assassination attempt have been lifted, saying that they belong to the individual who sought to place an explosive device in elevator shaft of the building where the lawmaker’s office is located.

The security situation will likely impose itself as the main issue of discussion during cabinet’s session on Monday given the recent unrest on the border with Syria and the protests over the release of officers linked to the deaths of Sheikhs Ahmed Abul Wahed and Mohammed Merheb, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

It said that the severity of the situation may force the government to take decisive action in the affairs in order to avoid its further deterioration.

Contacts are ongoing between Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Hizbullah in order to resolve the MP’s dispute with Speaker Nabih Berri ahead of Monday’s cabinet session, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Sources close to Aoun said that the contacts have been taking place away from the media spotlight, with the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper revealing that Energy Minister Jebran Bassil held “a lengthy meeting” with Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa.

About 20 armed men enter a dilapidated barn in northeastern Lebanon, preparing to sneak across the border and fight alongside their Syrian "brothers" against the regime in Damascus.

The young men decide to rest briefly at the farm near Al-Qaa in the Bekaa Valley, their arms and baggage placed against a wall.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora accused on Saturday the cabinet of covering up for “criminals and assassination groups,” wondering if Prime Minister Najib Miqati is waiting until all the opposition leaders are “liquidated” until he decides to hand over the telecommunications data.

“The citizens are wondering if the assassination bids returned while the cabinet is still under the influence of the political rift,” Saniora said at a national gathering in Majdelyoun.

Head of Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad said on Saturday that the sharp differences with the Free Patriotic Movement will not lead to a rift between the allies, stressing that those who are staking on the collapse of agreements and allies will be disappointed.

“As long as there is a strategic understanding, no one will be able to create a rift,” Raad said.

Opposition MP Butros Harb stressed on Saturday that he will delay briefing the public about the details on the assassination attempt against him.

“I’ve already said that I will inform the public about the results of the investigation and I thought it would happen on Monday, but the probe requires few additional days to analyze the obtained information,” Harb told reporters after holding talks with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji at his residence in Hazmieh.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed hope that officials would agree on a modern electoral law that provides the best representation and achieves the ambitions of all Lebanese.

“The participation of Lebanese expatriates in the elections consolidate their ties and belonging to the nation,” al-Rahi said during a meeting with Australian speaker Peter Slipper in the presence of ambassador Lex Bartlem at his north Lebanon summer residence in Diman.

President Michel Suleiman called on Saturday for the improvement of Lebanon’s democratic performance to reap the benefits of the political changes in the region.

“We should improve our democratic performance to take advantage of what’s happening in the region in terms of democratic change,” Suleiman said in a statement released by the presidential palace.