Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has said that both the West and Damascus are rejecting the return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to the war-torn country.

Bou Habib, who is currently in Washington, spoke to al-Joumhouria newspaper about the steps that a ministerial committee will make to communicate with Syria over the return of the refugees. In addition to Bou Habib, the committee comprises General Security acting chief Maj. Gen. Elias Bayssari and Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Mustafa.

As Lebanon continues to plunge in bitter political divisions, Qatar is silently trying to help it break its long presidential impasse.

Qatari envoy Jassem Bin Fahad Al-Thani is still in Beirut on a consultative mission that he will resume this week with a visit to the Grand Serail, informed sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Monday.

Hezbollah central council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq has noted that “there are foreign, international and domestic initiatives to resolve the presidential crisis but no progress towards a solution.”

“This is because the challenge and confrontation folk have torpedoed all these initiatives due to deep-rooted grudges and failed bets,” Qaouq said.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has warned some domestic political forces against being “delusional” regarding the presidential file.

“Delusional are those waiting for the balances of power to change so that their candidate reaches the presidency, such as betting on a strike against Hezbollah or Iran, the fall of (Syrian) President (Bashar) al-Assad, or betting on a Syrian-Saudi or Saudi-Iranian understanding,” Bassil said during a visit to Zahle.

A demo dubbed “Freedoms March” was attacked and besieged by a mob Saturday in downtown Beirut after it was accused of “promoting homosexuality.”

The attacks against protesters and journalists left several people wounded and the besieged individuals were eventually evacuated in Internal Security Forces armored vehicles after several hours of chaos.

Qatar is carrying out intensive contacts with Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh to convince him to withdraw from the presidential race prior to the arrival in Lebanon of Qatari State Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz al-Khulaifi, a media report said, citing “credible” sources.

Despite the negative media reports, the door to a presidential settlement has been opened and what Speaker Nabih Berri "has told to his visitors reflects this," a media report said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf told the French representative at the latest New York meeting of the five-nation group that the objective in Lebanon is not dialogue but rather the election of a president, a media report said.

A Qatari envoy visiting Lebanon has said that his country is willing to immediately deposit $1 billion in Lebanon’s central bank once a new president is elected, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Saturday.

A U.S. plan providing monthly financial aid to the personnel of the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces will not be renewed when its six-month period expires in November, a U.S. Embassy source has been quoted as saying.

“The plan will not be renewed due to the failure to approve reforms and elect a president,” media reports quoted the source as saying.