A Qatari envoy visiting Lebanon, Mohammed bin Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, has not excluded the name of Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh from the list of presidential candidates in his meetings with Lebanese officials, political sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has opened the door for the municipal elections nominations starting Wednesday April 5 in the North, April 12 in Mount Lebanon, April 19 in Beirut and Bekaa and April 26 in the South.

The municipal elections will start on May 7 in the North, on May 14 in Mount Lebanon, on May 21 in Beirut and in Bekaa, and on May 28 in the South, Mawlawi said Monday, as he urged the government to secure the necessary funds and complete the administrative preparations.

The minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Mohammed bin Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, in a shuttle tour between the Lebanese leaders over the presidential file.

The Qatari minister also met with Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun.

Lebanon is investigating alleged embezzlement of over $300,000 at its Ukraine embassy, a judicial official told AFP on Monday, as sources say the cash-strapped country is trying to cut costs at diplomatic missions.

The probe was launched after financial irregularities came to light in September, the official said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, on Monday welcomed an announcement by caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi calling for municipal elections during 7 May through 28 May 2023.

“Conducting the municipal elections is important for adhering to Lebanon’s constitutional timelines and democratic practices, at a time when the country is already facing a presidential vacancy and widespread institutional paralysis,” Wronecka said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Monday the Free Patriotic Movement and the Hezbollah-led camp of obstructing the municipal polls.

"it's getting harder for them, the FPM's popular support is not at its best," Geagea said, adding that millions of dollars had been spent from the Special Drawing Rights and that the elections can also be funded.

France is inclined to invite more Lebanese presidential candidates to talks in Paris, after it hosted Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh in recent days, Annahar newspaper reported on Monday.

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh appeared to be “very relieved” although “realistic” following his return from Paris, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted his visitors as saying.

A Lebanese-Canadian academic who is the lone suspect in a 1980 bombing outside a Paris synagogue will go on trial Monday, nearly 43 years after four people were killed and 46 wounded in the unclaimed attack.

French authorities identified Hassan Diab as a suspect in 1999. They accuse him of planting the bomb on the evening of Oct. 3, 1980, outside the synagogue where 320 worshipers had gathered to mark the end of a Jewish holiday.

A Qatari delegation, headed by the minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry Mohammed Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Monday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over the presidential file.

Al-Khulaifi arrived in Lebanon on Sunday night to discuss the presidential deadlock with the Lebanese leaders.