Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday stressed that “demanding a correction of Christian representation” in state institutions “is not sectarian,” noting that electoral proposals that involve controversial sectarian voting are the only options that remain on the table.

A patrol from Beirut's State Security department has managed to arrest a 44-year-old Syrian on suspicion of belonging to the extremist Islamic State group, state-run National News Agency reported.

Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel on Tuesday, slammed the political authority's incapability to agree on a new electoral law to rule the upcoming parliamentary polls and accused it of 'tailoring a voting system to secure power gains.”

Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani said Tuesday that an agreement on an electoral law is making progress, pointing out that discussions are open to various possibilities and are focusing on “particular details,” and al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Discussions “on a voting system are making important steps towards an agreement. The atmospheres are positive, discussions are now only focusing on specific details,” Hasbani told the daily in an interview.

The cyberattack that took computer files hostage around the world compelled Lebanon's central bank (Banque Du Liban) on Monday to temporarily suspend electronic transactions as a precaution, media reports said on Tuesday.

Al-Joumhouria daily said the cyberattack has failed after thorough measures taken by the central bank. But, it is not yet clear whether BDL will resume its normal activity on Tuesday, or whether freezing its electronic activity and related operations will last longer, it said.

Some Christian political parties have accused Speaker Nabih Berri of “maneuvering” when he first proposed the creation of senate as part of a new parliamentary electoral law, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“Berri's suggestion to create a senate was merely a superficial maneuver because he retracted his proposal, under the pretext of expiration of deadlines, after the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces agreed to it,” FPM and LF sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

President Michel Aoun assured on Monday that chances are still available to agree on an electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary polls before June 19 when the term of the parliament ends.

“The possibility is still available until June 19 to agree on a new electoral law. We are always working to guarantee that the rights of all Lebanese components are met,” said Aoun.

Speaker Nabih Berri assured on Monday that atmospheres are positive although the idea of establishing a senate has been withdrawn from a proposal he made on an electoral law.

“Withdrawing the idea of creating a senate by May 15, does not mean that the atmospheres are not positive with all political parties, especially that proportional representation is the subject under discussion currently,” the parliament leadership said in a statement on Monday.

MP Boutros Harb said on Monday that no agreement on an electoral law was reached during a meeting held Sunday evening at Ain el-Tineh, adding that discussions were still underway to improve conditions.

“There was no agreement on a single scenario during Sunday's evening meeting on an electoral law. Debate is continuing in order to improve conditions in the recent negotiations,” said Harb in an interview to VDL (100.5).

The cabinet will hold an ordinary session at the Grand Serail on Wednesday to tackle 52 items on its agenda, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil is expected to present a demand for the renewal of the Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh's term.