Interior Minister Marwan Charbel vowed on Thursday to negotiate the release of the kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, reported Future television.

He made his pledge during a meeting he held with the families of the pilgrims, saying that he will head to Doha, Qatar in order to carry out the negotiations.

Independence Movement leader Michel Mouawad announced on Wednesday his rejection of the Orthodox Gathering's proposed electoral law, saluting President Michel Suleiman's critique of this “unconstitutional” suggestion.

“(Former Deputy Speaker) Elie Ferzli's law encourages sectarian conflicts in the country,” Mouawad said after meeting with Suleiman in Baabda, adding that adopting it will have severe consequences on the “Lebanese identity and on free Christian presence in the country”.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday the importance of the work of the parliamentary electoral subcommittee meetings.

He expressed his “satisfaction” with the discussions that resumed on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati hailed on Wednesday the efforts exerted by the ministries and agencies to decrease the impact of the storm on the citizens and properties after the cabinet approved LL3 billion to the citizens who were affected by it.

“Lebanon is witnessing a storm that holds a blessing despite the inflicted damages,” Miqati said during a cabinet session at the Grand Serail.

A powerful snow storm has magnified the misery for Syrians who have fled the country's civil war to Lebanon, turning two camps into a swamp in the eastern Bekaa valley.

The two encampments were immersed in water after the Litani River flooded. Dozens of Syrian refugees were left in search of alternate shelter along with their soaked and muddy belongings.

The body of a woman in her thirties was found in the coastal town of Tabarja, north of Beirut.

The state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday that the body was dumped in a large garbage metal bin near al-Riyah Hotel in the area.

The Maronite bishops council renewed on Wednesday its demand for the formation of a new government and the approval of a parliamentary electoral draft law other than the 1960 law.

It said in a statement after its monthly meeting: “The new government should be capable of performing national duties, including achieving economic stability, holding the elections, and keeping Lebanon away from regional conflicts.”

Rival lawmakers from the March 8 and 14 alliances met for the second day in a row on Wednesday to agree on an electoral draft-law ahead of this year's parliamentary elections.

The MPs, members of a parliamentary subcommittee headed by Robert Ghanem, held two rounds of talks on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged on Wednesday the judiciary to swiftly issue the indictment in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha, who is accused along with two Syrian officials of forming a criminal gang aimed at carrying out attacks in Lebanon at Syria's behest.

General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi briefed Miqati on the jurisdiction work concerning several cases during a meeting at the Grand Serail.

A storm that has been lashing Lebanon since the weekend dropped snow on the coast in northern areas, blocked major mountainous roads and forced the closure of schools for a third day as the worst is yet to come.

The National News Agency said Wednesday that the snow reached the coast in the northern town of Batroun. It also reached 400 meters above sea level in the northern Akkar district.