A powerful snow storm has magnified the misery for Syrians who have fled the country's civil war to Lebanon, turning two camps into a swamp in the eastern Bekaa valley.

The two encampments were immersed in water after the Litani River flooded. Dozens of Syrian refugees were left in search of alternate shelter along with their soaked and muddy belongings.

The body of a woman in her thirties was found in the coastal town of Tabarja, north of Beirut.

The state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday that the body was dumped in a large garbage metal bin near al-Riyah Hotel in the area.

The Maronite bishops council renewed on Wednesday its demand for the formation of a new government and the approval of a parliamentary electoral draft law other than the 1960 law.

It said in a statement after its monthly meeting: “The new government should be capable of performing national duties, including achieving economic stability, holding the elections, and keeping Lebanon away from regional conflicts.”

Rival lawmakers from the March 8 and 14 alliances met for the second day in a row on Wednesday to agree on an electoral draft-law ahead of this year's parliamentary elections.

The MPs, members of a parliamentary subcommittee headed by Robert Ghanem, held two rounds of talks on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged on Wednesday the judiciary to swiftly issue the indictment in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha, who is accused along with two Syrian officials of forming a criminal gang aimed at carrying out attacks in Lebanon at Syria's behest.

General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi briefed Miqati on the jurisdiction work concerning several cases during a meeting at the Grand Serail.

A storm that has been lashing Lebanon since the weekend dropped snow on the coast in northern areas, blocked major mountainous roads and forced the closure of schools for a third day as the worst is yet to come.

The National News Agency said Wednesday that the snow reached the coast in the northern town of Batroun. It also reached 400 meters above sea level in the northern Akkar district.

Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi considered on Wednesday that the damage caused by the storm is “under control,” blaming the chaos across Lebanon to the “shortage in capacities” and growth in negligence.

“In comparison with the strength of the storm, we were able to control the damage... We have mobilized all the available capabilities to open the blocked roads and facilitate traffic,” Aridi said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

Hizbullah has been training Syrians from the Shiite sect in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley to defend themselves against the rebel Free Syrian Army, sources told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday.

The Syrian Shiite sources said around 1,500 men are receiving salaries and being trained in the Bekaa camps to fight in Syria and defend Shiite villages and towns against the rebels.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat described his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri as “excellent,” saying he is convinced that dialogue and abiding by the Taef accord are the only solutions to end the political deadlock in the country.

“It is necessary to periodically meet with Berri and discuss with him all the developments,” Jumblat said in comments to As Safir newspaper on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed reservations on Wednesday on the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, saying MPs should agree on an electoral draft-law that guarantees a just representation.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Miqati stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on “a draft-law that guarantees the fair representation of all sects and factions.”