The opposition has inched closer to endorsing the presidential nomination of Army chief General Joseph Aoun, the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will call for dialogue in early October.

"If nothing happens, I will head the dialogue with Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab," Berri told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published Monday.

Qatari envoy Abou Fahad Jassem Al-Thani will arrive in Beirut today, Monday to kick off a visit related to Lebanon’s presidential file, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.

Almost one year has passed since former president Michel Aoun's term ended. The divided Parliament failed for 12 times to elect a new president, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the 86 votes required to elect one in a first round of voting.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who had refused to take part in a dialogue to agree on a president said there are no other choices but Jihad Azour or Suleiman Franjieh.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has stressed that neither the Hezbollah-led camp nor the opposition can “impose” a president.

A top official with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group has said that Palestinian and Lebanese officials have given militant Islamic groups in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp until the end of the month to hand over the accused killers of a Fatah general.

A fragile calm has largely prevailed in the Ain el-Helweh camp since Thursday night after the warring sides reached the latest in a series of cease-fire agreements. It followed a week of intense fighting that killed at least 18 people and wounded and displaced hundreds.

Army Commander General Joseph Aoun is currently the leading candidate in the presidential race, but French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian is insisting to return to Beirut with two or three names, informed sources said.

“This would facilitate the discussion with the hesitant parties or those who have reservations over the army chief, such as the Free Patriotic Movement,” the sources added, in remarks to Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has announced that he is “clinging to” his presidential dialogue initiative.

“It is the only one present on the table,” Berri told al-Manar television overnight.

Lebanese native Hosams Abu Meri has been appointed as Latvia's new health minister.

European Union member Cyprus has warned against allowing Lebanon to “collapse,” noting that such a development would create a refugee crisis for Europe.

In a letter to European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, Cypriot Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said he has raised the urgent need for aid to Lebanon, where it is estimated that 2.5 million Syrians have taken refuge.