U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly advised the Lebanese at the end of his mission to Beirut to remain united and preserve Lebanon.

Plumbly, who will be succeeded by the head of the U.N. mission to rid Syria of chemical weapons, Sigrid Kaag, told An Nahar newspaper that his last words to the Lebanese are “to remain united and preserve this precious country.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that the closure of the notorious block B of Roumieh prison east of Beirut was the result of the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal that started last month.

“The operation at Roumieh prison came as a repercussion to the dialogue ... which proved that the state exists,” Berri told his visitors.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has officially informed Saudi officials that Lebanon will receive the first batch of French weapons after March, As Safir daily reported Saturday.

The newspaper said that Le Drian gave the information to the Saudi officials during a recent visit to Riyadh.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed on Friday some journalists and TV stations without naming them for reports and shows that “contradict moral values” and said Lebanon's presidential crisis is linked to Sunni-Shiite discord.

“Some writings and TV shows are violating sanctity and resorting to deception and lies for money-making purposes,” said al-Rahi.

Messages exchanged between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces included issues linked to stability in Lebanon and the flaws in the implementation of the Taef Accord, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

LF leader Samir Geagea revealed during a press conference on Wednesday that both sides have exchanged the messages ahead of his expected talks with his rival, FPM chief MP Michel Aoun.

The parliament failed once again to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum despite all the openness of the rival parties to engage in dialogue to end the presidential deadlock.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed, for the 17th time, the session until 28 January.

Lebanon's lingering political crises are expected to be resolved within one package that would be acceptable by the political arch-foes, media reports said on Wednesday.

Sources said in comments published in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-seyassah, the new head of state will be elected within the upcoming six months, in particular in June.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan on Monday held a meeting with a Lebanese Forces official to set the stage for talks between Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and LF chief Samir Geagea, stressing that the dialogue aims to contribute to joint action.

Kanaan told As Safir daily published on Tuesday that the “objective of the dialogue is to contribute to a joint action base on many issues.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that any possible agreement between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement would take into consideration the interest of the nation.

“The statement that we issued after the first round of talks (between the two parties) was very clear and very accurate,” local dailies on Monday quoted Berri as telling his visitors.

The second round of dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement is scheduled to be held in Ain el-Tineh on Monday to discuss ways to limit Sunni-Shiite tension, political sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published on Sunday that the representatives of the two parties will assess the results of the first meeting that was held between them under the auspices of Speaker Nabih Berri last month.