Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea slammed on Tuesday various factions for their criticism of the Orthodox Gathering draft electoral law and failure to make their own alternative proposal to the suggestion.

He said during a press conference: “We support any alternative to the Orthodox proposal that enjoys the backing of the majority of political powers.”

Military Examining Magistrate Imad al-Zain demanded on Tuesday the death penalty for a Lebanese army soldier for collaborating with Israel, the sate-run National News Agency reported.

According to the news agency, the Lebanese soldier, identified by his initials as D. G., fled the military service in 2009 and investigations revealed that he was collaborating with Israel in 2005-2006.

President Michel Suleiman called on Tuesday for the adoption of an electoral draft-law proposed by the government in August by introducing amendments to it if need be.

During a speech in Baabda palace, Suleiman “invited (lawmakers) to start discussing a draft-law proposed by the cabinet and introduce the necessary amendments if the need arises.”

French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli expressed understanding for the reaction of the supporters of Lebanese leftist militant George Abdallah, who has spent 28 years in jail, despite stressing that it is not “justified.”

Paoli called on protesters to wait for the sentence of the court on January 28 after holding talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at the Bustros Palace in Beirut.

All branches for mechanical inspection of vehicles were closed on Tuesday over reports that the Lebanese government hasn't renewed the contract of the company operating the facilities.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) described the closure as a scandal after the contract of the firm “Fal” was not renewed and the government failed in finding alternative companies.

An unknown assailant infiltrated into the Phalange party bureau in the Beirut district of Ashrafiyeh but was able to escape, media reports said on Tuesday.

According to the state-run National News Agency, security forces arrived swiftly at the scene cordoning it off and searching it.

Speaker Nabih Berri is keen to bridge the gap between the political foes and find common ground over the electoral law that will be adopted during the upcoming parliamentary elections, according to local newspapers published on Tuesday.

“The worst electoral law that we reach consensus over is better than the best electoral law that has sharp rift over,” Berri pointed out.

Prison guards at the Roumieh prison have discovered a tunnel under the facility, wide enough to let hundreds of prisoners escape, the Ad Diyar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

After last week's snowstorm dubbed Olga, prison guards were shocked at the immense amounts of water flowing from the prison cells, the daily said.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia this month, warned on Tuesday that the so-called Orthodox Gathering electoral proposal threatens the balance set by the Taef Agreement.

The Orthodox Gathering proposal, which calls for dividing Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to elect its own MPs based on a proportional representation system, leads to “more divisions among the Lebanese and threatens the balance set by the Taef,” Miqati told As Safir daily.

The Internal Security Forces will not transfer the lead informant in ex-Minister Michel Samaha's case to testify before the judiciary during a session set at the end of the month, media reports said on Tuesday.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, the ISF fears for the life of informant Milad Kfoury, who is reportedly the man behind reporting Samaha to the ISF Intelligence Bureau.