The Free Syrian Army urged on Monday the Lebanese government to release the head of FSA command council, Colonel Abdullah Rifai, who was arrested a day earlier on the eastern border with Syria.

FSA also said the “Lebanese army is not our enemy.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed on Monday “cold-blooded” lawmakers for violating the constitution by causing a vacuum at the presidential palace and extending their own term.

MPs are using their power to cause paralysis in the presidency because of personal and foreign interests, said al-Rahi in his opening statement at the 48th meeting of the council of catholic patriarchs and bishops in Lebanon.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea described his ties with al-Mustaqbal movement of ex-Premier Saad Hariri as “eternal,” stressing their alliance was essential in preserving Lebanon.

“Our relations are eternal. They go beyond that. We consider the alliance between the LF and al-Mustaqbal essential in keeping the unity of the Lebanese entity,” said Geagea in remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said the extension of parliament’s mandate until June 2017 was aimed at preventing a change in the legislature's majority and revealed that dialogue with al-Mustaqbal movement on the presidential deadlock has stopped.

“The real reason behind the extension is to stop the current (parliamentary) majority from changing and consequently to control the presidential elections,” Aoun told As Safir newspaper in an interview published on Monday.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam revealed there has been progress in the negotiations on the release of Lebanese soldiers and policemen taken captive by jihadists in August.

“There is progress but the issue is difficult, complicated and sensitive,” Salam told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Monday.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq headed a security delegation to Egypt on Sunday to purchase military equipment as part of the Saudi grant to the Lebanese army, the al-Joumhouria daily reported.

"The visit aims to purchase military equipment made in Egypt," for the benefit of the army "and to put efforts together in a bid to combat the spread of terrorism," the daily said on Monday.

A resident of Arsal went missing on Sunday, he was likely abducted by extremist groups into the outskirts of Arsal.

The National News Agency said: “Arsal resident, Abdul Karim Ahmed Humaid, went missing Saturday in Wadi Hmeid.”

The army arrested at a checkpoint in Wadi Hmayed in Arsal, head of the Qalamun front and head of Free Syrian Army command council colonel Abdullah Rifai, while wandering in the outskirts of Arsal, with a fake Lebanese ID.

The National News Agency said that he was arrested, “while he was passing through a checkpoint in a GMC car, and he was undercover with a fake ID.”

Deputy head of Hizbullah's Executive Council Sheikh Nabil Qaouq said on Sunday that Hizbullah's intervention in Syria is “a 100% Lebanese decision” and this decision “has enhanced the strength of Lebanon in countering extremist groups.”

The army carried out a raid on Sunday on a gathering for Syria refugees in Tyre's al-Shawakeer area and arrested a person.

The National News Agency said: “Army troops including an engineering team, raided a gathering for Syrian refugees in Tyre's al-Shawakeer area in front of Basel al-Assad cultural center.”