The Lebanese Forces suspended on Tuesday its participation in the electoral subcommittee until a parliamentary session is scheduled to vote on a new draft-law.

LF MP George Adwan told reporters after a meeting for the committee at the parliament that “the subcommittee is only passing time until a settlement is reached regarding the presidential post.”

Head of the Kataeb Party Amin Gemayel expressed on Tuesday hope that the servicemen kidnapped from the northeastern border town of Arsal in August would be released.

He said after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri: “We must carry out negotiations to release the Arsal captives as soon as the conditions are available.”

The cabinet is likely to reach a settlement over the opening tenders of marine oil blocks to foreign companies, as Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian linked the adoption of petroleum decrees to resolving this dispute, reported As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.

“Implementing the decree should be the government's top priority,” he told the daily.

Lebanon is seeking to renew the interest of international companies in offshore oil exploration despite the procrastination of the government in issuing licensing and amid reports that Israel was “stealing” Lebanese gas.

Local dailies said on Monday that the parliament's energy committee recently discovered that the interest of oil exploration companies has dropped to a large extent after they realized the Lebanese government was slow in adopting two important bills.

Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Jan Eliasson is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Sunday on a three-day visit aimed at discussing the case of Syrian refugees, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Eliasson will arrive on Sunday for talks with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, and a number of high-ranking officials.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel embarked on Saturday on a tour of the South, the first such visit since 1983, reported An Nahar daily.

He stressed: “Our solidarity helps preserve our security and stability.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated that Israel was “stealing” Lebanon's natural gas through a pipeline lying in its territorial waters despite a claim made by Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian that he did not have information about the alleged aggression.

Berri told As Safir daily published on Thursday that he has “evidence” condemning Israel.

Speaker Nabih Berri has denied that the much anticipated dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement would be postponed over differences on the agenda of the talks.

In remarks published in local dailies on Wednesday, Berri said: “I am 100 percent reassured and hope the first session would be held by the end of the year.”

Speaker Nabih Berri revealed on Monday that Israel has already started stealing amounts of Lebanon's offshore gas, expressing astonishment at the government’s “lack of interest,” al-Akhbar daily reported.

The Speaker told the daily that he received almost certain information from an international scientific figure that Israel is stealing Lebanon's gas from a basin near the maritime borders with occupied Palestine, and at cut-rate expenses.

Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat have expressed anger at the performance of a committee tasked with resolving the crisis of Lebanese hostages.

The meetings of the committee, which is made up of ministers and security officials, haven't made progress, Berri told his visitors.