Quintet 'agrees on' presidential candidate, Doha proposes Bayssari and Hitti

The five-nation group on Lebanon -- which comprises the U.S., France, KSA, Qatar and Egypt -- has agreed on a presidential candidate for Lebanon whose name will be highlighted in the coming days, al-Jadeed TV reported overnight.

Al-Liwaa newspaper meanwhile reported Wednesday that “the members of the quintet, especially France and Saudi Arabia, are seeking an agreement on a president as soon as possible and before the end of the year.”

The Nidaa al-Watan daily for its part said that a Qatari envoy who visited Lebanon has proposed candidates such as ex-minister Nassif Hitti and General Security acting chief Elias Bayssari.

“Hezbollah and Speaker Nabih Berri listened to his proposals and insisted on (Suleiman) Franjieh’s nomination, as Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil was not opposed to Bayssari’s nomination,” the daily added.