Top diplomats from Russia, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday failed to make any major breakthrough on how to end the Syrian conflict, with the sides sharply at odds on the future of Bashar Assad.

But Moscow did seem to make progress with getting some more regional players on side, announcing with Jordan that the two countries would begin to "coordinate" their air operations over Syria. 

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is set to kick off in upcoming weeks a trip to a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday.

Sources told the daily that the premier is set to visit the kingdom in mid-November.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday carried out its 136th execution this year, putting to death one of its citizens convicted of murder.

Mutlig al-Otaibi had been found guilty of shooting dead a fellow Saudi because of an argument, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated that any improvement in political developments in Lebanon is linked to a regional agreement, most notably between Saudi Arabia and Iran, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday.

He told the daily: “Iran is not in a hurry to resolve Lebanon's presidential deadlock. Once the West's sanctions against Tehran are lifted, then we can talk.”

Saudi Shiites vowed Saturday to continue commemorations of Ashura, among the holiest occasions for their faith, even after a gunman killed five people at one of their gatherings, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Friday's attack in the Qatif area of Eastern Province was the latest in a series of bombings and shootings linked to the Sunni extremist group in Saudi Arabia over the past year.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat presented Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri during his recent trip to Saudi Arabia with a “comprehensive” deal over the presidential deadlock and the garbage disposal crisis, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday.

Informed sources told the daily that his proposal calls for reaching an agreement over a new president and understandings over a new government and parliamentary electoral.

The mother of a youth facing beheading for taking part in protests in Saudi Arabia has pleaded with U.S. President Barack Obama to "rescue my son" in an interview published by the British daily the Guardian Thursday.

The sentence against Shiite Ali al-Nimr, only 17 when he was arrested in February 2012, has drawn international condemnation over his young age and allegations that he was tortured into making a confession.

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat held talks on Wednesday with head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.

A statement from the former premier's office said that the two officials met in Riyadh to discuss the latest local developments in Lebanon, most notably the political deadlock over the election of a president.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday executed one of its citizens in the southern city of Abha after he was convicted of killing a policeman, the interior ministry said.

Ali Assiri shot and killed the policeman while being arrested, the ministry said in a statement published by the official SPA news agency.

France on Tuesday announced a series of deals worth 10 billion euros ($11.4 billion) with Saudi Arabia, reinforcing growing ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced the deals, some still to be finalized, on Twitter during a visit to Riyadh.