In its evening meeting which extended until after midnight, the Cabinet convened under the chairmanship of Premier Saad Hariri and discussed the tax articles, said Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah.

MP Sethrida Geagea on Sunday described late Maronite ex-patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir as a "saint" who "stood by the Lebanese Forces party in the darkest circumstances, especially after the Taef Accord and between the years 1990 and 2005."

A grouping of retired servicemen on Sunday vowed to stage protests and block vital facilities on Monday morning to warn the government against "touching retirement salaries or social aid stipulated by the law."

Lebanon's leaders and politicians on Sunday mourned the death of former Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, an influential figure in Lebanon's modern history.

Lebanon's former Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, who wielded considerable political influence during the country's civil war and was an ardent advocate of a Syrian troop withdrawal, died Sunday, the church said. 

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblatt on Saturday said in its quest to formulate an austere state budget, the government has unveiled “treasures” of squandered public funds that have for decades been protected with secrecy, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Lebanon renewed “requests” from the United States to pursue “mediation” with Israel to demarcate the maritime border in order to preserve its oil wealth right, mainly the border oil field Block 9 which Lebanon fears that Israel could steal, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Saturday.

The Cabinet approved an increase in tax on bank deposits on Friday during a session chaired by Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail.

State employees and military retirees renewed their protests on Friday and kicked off sit-ins in Riad al-Solh Square denouncing possible salary cuts as part of austere budget measures planned by the government.

Two individuals were injured when a personal armed dispute erupted at midnight in the town of Aramoun in Aley, LBCI TV station said on Friday.