Lebanese banks began taking measures against persons or institutions in accordance to a U.S. law that imposes sanctions on banks that knowingly do business with Hizbullah, banking sources said on Wednesday.

The sources told al-Mustaqbal daily that the measures are being taken on accounts in Lebanese Liras and foreign currencies.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc noted on Tuesday that the election of a president should remain a priority in Lebanon given Speaker Nabih Berri's recent stance on holding a legislative session.

It said after its weekly meeting: “The election of a head of state will pave the way for restoring normalcy at constitutional institutions.”

Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri unveiled on Tuesday his list of candidates for the Beirut municipal elections that are scheduled for May 8.

He said during a ceremony: “This list brings together the people of Beirut and we will head to the polls on May 8 and elect it to restore unity to the city.”

The American University of Beirut slammed on Tuesday the clash that erupted on Monday between students affiliated with the Kataeb Party and others affiliated with the Syrian Social National Party.

It underlined the importance of freedom of expression for all sides, “strongly condemned” the violence that broke out on Monday on and off campus.

The Change and Reform bloc welcomed on Tuesday the stand of Speaker Nabih Berri on the contentious legislative session, saying it adheres to the National Pact.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “The position takes into consideration the stances of Christian blocs and is the first step towards resolving the dispute over the parliamentary electoral law.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hinted on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora was behind the illegal internet network.

He said via Twitter: “An ambassador of a major country asked me why I opposed Lebanon's joining of the World Trade Organization, as did the the European Union ambassador.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi hoped on Tuesday that the municipal polls, which are set for May, would pave way for the election of a new president.

The solution to all issues is the presidency, al-Rahi said at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut before traveling to Brussels on a three-day visit.

A decision made by Speaker Nabih Berri for joint parliamentary committees to discuss a raft of electoral draft laws threw the already defunct parliament in disarray, lawmakers warned on Tuesday.

“The summary we derive from Speaker Berri's stance is that the parliament will not convene in the first ordinary session that ends in May,” legislative sources told An Nahar daily published on Tuesday.

Maronite Bishop Samir Mazloum denied on Tuesday reports that Bkirki has proposed the election of a president for a transitional period to resolve the country's political crisis.

“Bkirki is not the source of a proposal to elect a head of state for a two-year period,” Mazloum told As Safir newspaper published on Tuesday.

Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji is expected to visit Moscow soon to consolidate the Lebanese military's anti-terrorism capabilities, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.

A Russian technical military team is currently visiting Beirut and conducting maintenance to Russian-made weaponry, it said.