Report: Nasrallah met Franjieh over presidential chances

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has met more than once with Marada leader and presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, al-Jadeed reported.

The TV network claimed that the two leaders discussed Franjieh's presidential chances and that Franjieh asked Nasrallah during their meetings to be briefed in advance about any upcoming settlement.

French Special Presidential Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is leaving Lebanon today after a four-day visit, has reportedly hinted to some MPs that any of the proposed candidates, Suleiman Franjieh and Jihad Azour, will not be elected and tacitly proposed instead Army chief General Joseph Aoun.

Meanwhile, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported Friday that Head of Hezbollah parliamentary bloc MP Mohammad Raad has also met with Franjieh in Bnashii, and assured him that he remains Hezbollah's only candidate.

Raad had earlier met with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun away from the spotlight to discuss the presidential file. He told him that Hezbollah respects him as a person and as an army chief, but has a clear candidate -- Franjieh, al-Joumhouria said.