Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh stressed on Tuesday that he is ready to attend any dialogue session that President Michel Suleiman calls for, accusing the March 14 opposition of forcing its conditions on the rest of the factions.

“Dialogue is the only solution to any crisis and the other team wants to tailor the solutions according to its interests,” Franjieh said following talks with a Progressive Socialist Party delegation tasked with discussing with rival parties an initiative by Druze leader MP Walid Jumblat.

The Social Affairs and Health Ministers said Tuesday 18,800 Lebanese families will be able to receive free health services in all public and private hospitals as part of the government’s welfare program launched last year to aid the poor.

“I hope that the free healthcare for the Lebanese families would be an example of what the government can do for the Lebanese people without any segregation,” Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said during a press conference he held with Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil at the Grand Serail.

The Army Command stated on Tuesday that its units throughout Lebanon are continuing their efforts in assisting citizens who have been stranded by the snow and floods caused by the storm that has been affecting the country since Saturday.

It said in a statement that it has been helping stranded citizens throughout Lebanon, most notably in the areas of Baalbek, Akkar, Jbeil, and Keserwan.

Trade and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas stressed on Tuesday that the government is committed to the implementation of smoking ban but would consider amending it to support the restaurants sector and decrease their losses.

“We have to implement this ban but we can amend certain articles in it or issue executive in favor of the restaurants sector,” Nahhas said following talks with a delegation from the restaurant owners syndicate.

The number of Syrian refugees receiving assistance from the Lebanese government,the United Nations and non-governmental organizations has reached over 180,000.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees announced in its weekly report on Monday that 132,354 have been registered while 47,751 are awaiting registration.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat openly opposed on Tuesday the adoption of the Orthodox Gathering proposal, describing it as an “adventure.”

“Adopting the Christian proposal has many risks that would lead to extremism and isolation of sects,” Jumblat told As Safir newspaper.

Six parliamentary blocs approved the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering during the first round of discussions aimed at reaching consensus on an electoral draft law, while only the Mustaqbal bloc and the National Struggle Front rejected it, LBCI television reported.

Several proposals were discussed during the meeting, the head of a parliamentary electoral subcommittee, MP Robert Ghanem, said.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Tuesday that his party will not obstruct any electoral law that has Christian consensus, voicing hope that the electoral subcommittee meetings would reach common ground among the rival political parties.

“I will not oppose the Orthodox Gathering proposal if the Christians agreed on it, regardless of my opinion,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora restated on Monday his rejection of the Orthodox Gathering's electoral law, adding that the bloc's lawmakers do not mind discussing the proposal suggested by the March 14 Christian parties.

"The bloc's decision is based on the values stated in the Taef accord and on our belief in fair representation and freedom of choice,” Saniora explained during an interview with MTV.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias will pay an official visit to Lebanon on Thursday to discuss the prospect of cooperation in the exploration of offshore oil and gas.

Christofias will hold talks with President Michel Suleiman "to review economic issues and growth prospects that are opening up in the region in relation to the discovery of large reserves of hydrocarbons," a Cypriot official said on Monday.