Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed on Tuesday that his country will provide the needed ground to help Lebanon overcome its political crisis, as he assured that Egypt only seeks stability and peace in the world and region.

Internal Security Forces arrested a man in Beirut's southern suburb, Dahiyeh, on charges of smuggling narcotics, an ISF statement said on Saturday.

The ISF obtained information stating that two people were smuggling narcotics in Tahwitat al-Ghadir in Beirut's southern suburb.

Civil Defense volunteers vowed on Saturday to escalate actions if the government decrees for their full-time employment were not implemented.

The volunteers gathered in martyrs square and made a televised statement vowing to head to the Lebanese-Palestinian border without disclosing what they intend to do after.

The Lebanese army said that one of its officers was wounded after troops intervened to control an armed clash in the eastern Bekaa town of Hawrtaala a day earlier, the Army Command Orientation Directorate said in a statement on Saturday.

The army intervened on Friday to control an armed fight that broke out between members of the al-Masri family in Hawrtaala. The troops went under fire by the gunmen and an officer was slightly injured, added the statement.

Lebanon's stalled oil and gas exploration file will hopefully be put on the front burner after reports said that it shall be referred to the related ministerial committee in order to refer it later to the cabinet for approving the related decrees, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

In that regard, Berri voiced hopes that the file takes a smooth path away from obstacles, he told the daily: “I assume that things are going well. I see no justification for impeding this topic. The necessary government measures must be taken quickly and we are ready to keep up with this matter.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Saturday that Lebanon's military institution must not fall in the vacuum as he reiterated the necessity to fortify the country's army and distance it from political conflicts, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Hailing the role of the military institution in confronting terrorism and reinforcing security and internal stability, Berri said: “I refuse vacuum in the military institution, not even for one minute. This institution is the safety valve of the country.”

The Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Major-General Michael Beary met with Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday where he briefed him on the situation along the Blue Line and the UNIFIL's efforts together with the Lebanese army to maintain security in the south, a UNIFIL press statement said on Friday.

This was Beary’s first meeting with the Speaker after he assumed command of UNIFIL on 19 July.

Top gunman in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood, Ziad Allouki, was released from jail on Friday after serving his sentence, media reports said.

Allouki had turned himself in to the military intelligence in 2014 along with other leaders of armed fighters in the northern city of Tripoli.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Friday that Lebanon is in dire need for a “wise” president to fill the over two year vacuum and assured that there are seven candidates eligible for the post other than the names of the four nominees circulated in media outlets, An Nahar daily reported.

Without naming the candidates that he sees eligible to be head of state, Salam said in an interview to the daily that the “political life in Lebanon will not be regulated unless a president is elected.”

The repercussions of the battle in the neighboring Syrian town of Aleppo on Lebanon will not be reflected on the stalemate of electing a president, but will mainly drive a new wave of displaced Syrians towards Lebanon for refuge, foreign diplomatic sources told al-Joumhouria daily on Thursday.

“The presidential file is not linked to the situation in Aleppo. The major impact on Lebanon as the result of the developments in the Syrian town will be a new wave of displaced Syrians towards it,” said the sources.