Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar is readying to issue new arrest warrants in the case despite the latest judicial storm, media reports said.

“Bitar called in his clerk to his office at the Justice Palace on Wednesday to prepare arrest warrants that he intends to issue in two batches, on February 6 and 8,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

France is interested in some sectors that are nominated for partial or complete privatization in Lebanon, especially the country’s national carrier Middle East Airlines, a media report said on Friday.

Citing preliminary reports, al-Akhbar newspaper said MEA’s value will be estimated at more than $1 billion and a law to sell around 49% of its shares will be devised.

U.N. rights experts have voiced deep concern at the slow pace of an investigation into the killing of Lebanese intellectual Lokman Slim two years ago, demanding that Beirut ensure accountability.

"It is incumbent on the Lebanese authorities to fully investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime," the four independent experts said.

France will host an international meeting on Monday on how to end months of political deadlock in cash-strapped Lebanon, the foreign ministry said.

The Paris gathering is to be attended by representatives from France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said Thursday.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Thursday hailed a statement issued by the Christian spiritual leaders in Lebanon, saying “it delineates a promising course and opens the door to resolving the presidential crisis on the basis of partnership and national balance.”

“Since last summer, we have been the first to respond to this existential appeal and we will still be the first. This is what I stressed to Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in my latest visit to him and I hope everyone will respond to this call,” Bassil added.

A Hezbollah parliamentary delegation led by MP Mohammed Raad on Thursday held talks in Rabieh with ex-president and Free Patriotic Movement founder Michel Aoun.

During the meeting, Aoun stressed “the importance of national partnership, the continuation of the state building project, the fight against corruption and the protection of citizens’ rights,” the National News Agency said.

French presidential envoy Pierre Duquesne met Thursday at the Grand Serail with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Duquesne is in a two-day visit to Lebanon in a French mission aimed at supporting the energy sector in Lebanon.

Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun met Thursday with Saudi Ambassador in Lebanon Walid Boukhari in Yarze.

Aoun, 58, is on good terms with all sides of the political spectrum, although Hezbollah has criticized him for his close ties to Washington.

Dozens of lawsuits are being prepared to be filed in several European countries on behalf of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, a media report said.

The Nidaa al-Watan newspaper quoted a source from Accountability Now – which identifies itself as a Swiss foundation whose mission is to support the Lebanese civil society in its desire to put an end to the impunity of leaders – as saying that the lawsuits will be filed in Germany, France, Belgium, Croatia and the United Kingdom.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat is searching for a president, he told Annahar newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

"I am trying to find common ground and to break through the impasse in order to elect a president, until an Arab-international initiative crystallizes," Jumblat said.