In his first response ever against the Free Patriotic Movement’s repeated criticism, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun has snapped back at FPM chief Jebran Bassil over remarks related to the new Syrian migrant influx into Lebanon.

“We are hearing some voices that are questioning the army’s role in protecting the border based on known political stances,” Aoun said.

Qatari envoy Abou Fahad Jassem Al-Thani met overnight with the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad, a media report said.

Al-Thani informed Raad that the five-nation group on Lebanon, especially Qatar, is inclined to nominate Army chief Joseph Aoun for the presidency as a “third choice,” al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Saturday.

Speaker Nabih Berri is continuing to work on his dialogue initiative despite the negative indications and he is receiving written answers from the heads of the parliamentary blocs, a media report said.

“Berri has sent official messages to the Strong Republic and Strong Lebanon blocs,” al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Saturday, referring to the parliamentary blocs of the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday stressed that it is “unacceptable” for authorities to say that they have been prevented from continuing the probe into the abduction and killing of LF member Elias Hasrouni.

Ex-MP Walid Jumblat’s latest unusual attack on Saudi Arabia came because he knew months ago that its ambassador in Beirut, Walid Bukhari, was behind the stances and “escalation” of some political forces, informed sources said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi re-iterated Friday his call for Lebanon's neutrality, during his visit to Australia.

Al-Rahi expressed his fear for Lebanon's "positive" neutrality, "which is at the core of its identity and would keep it away from regional and international conflicts."

Washington, Riyadh and Doha have voiced a unified stance rejecting the continuation of the French efforts in the Lebanese presidential file, a media report said.

A Qatari envoy has arrived in Lebanon to help break the presidential impasse, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed to Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, in remarks published Friday.

"It is true that there is a Qatari initiative," Berri assured, adding that the envoy has not talked to him yet.

Hamas member Khalil Abou Maazeh has been arrested in Sidon by the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, a media report said.

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab is preparing a parliamentary petition to dissolve parliament as an exit from the country’s presidential crisis, Lebanese MPs told Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper in remarks published Friday.