Former President Michel Suleiman slammed media reports alleging that his ministerial bloc and that of the Kataeb party had demanded appointing one of the two Christian members in the military council in return for accepting the appointment of the second by the Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun.

“We have not and will not demand naming one of the members as a condition to accept the nomination of the other. We continue to call for respecting the mechanism and standards and to distance the military institution from conflicts,” said Suleiman in a tweet.

Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi announced Monday that former president Amin Gemayel is still the presidential candidate of the Kataeb Party, noting that negotiations with other political parties must start from this point.

As for the nomination of Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, Qazzi acknowledged that Franjieh is one of “the top four (Maronite) leaders who had met in Bkirki.”

Former President Michel Suleiman noted that the failed settlement over the security appointments would have “violated the rights of Christians,” reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.

He therefore expressed his satisfaction with its failure, adding: “My conscience is clear.”

Al-Mustaqbal Movement has reportedly approved a proposal for the government to approve military promotions, a step forward to resolve the cabinet crisis over the issue which is a key demand of Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun.

As Safir daily said Tuesday that al-Mustaqbal added a condition on the promotions, calling for the appointment of a new director-general and a new command council for the Internal Security Forces.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has announced that French President Francois Hollande decided to postpone his trip to Beirut to ensure its success.

Hollande delayed his visit “probably to November until the circumstances that guarantee the success of the trip are available,” Salam said in New York.

Change and Reform bloc officials revealed Tuesday that consultations among top politicians aimed at ending the deadlock on the promotion of army officers have made progress.

The officials, who were not identified, told al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the talks are tackling the promotions and the activation of the work of parliament and the government.

Lebanon's rival leaders met on Tuesday for the third round of national dialogue amid heavy reinforcements made by security forces to stop protesters from reaching the parliament building in downtown Beirut's Nejmeh Square.

A terse statement said the conferees focused on the issue of the presidential vacuum and that the next rounds of national dialogue will be held on October 6, 7 and 8.

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun is expected to announce on Sunday an important stance from the controversial military and security appointments and his possible boycott of the national dialogue.

Aoun is set to give a speech during a ceremony that will be held on the occasion of handing over the Free Patriotic Movement leadership to his son-in-law Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.

Officials in Bkirki said the national dialogue on the presidential vacuum would prolong the crisis, urging top officials who are holding all-party talks to take a “historic” decision that would lead to the election of a new head of state.

The officials, who were not identified, told the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper published Thursday that “the conferees should take a historic decision, which would lead to the removal of obstacles facing the presidential elections and help fill the vacuum.”

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat is exerting efforts to resolve the army appointments crisis by trying to appease Change and Reform bloc leader lawmaker Michel Aoun and other parties through the promotion of only three army officers, al-Akhbar daily reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper said that Jumblat has tasked Health Minister Wael Abou Faour to hold contacts and meetings to assess whether the promotion of the three officers, including Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, is acceptable.