Maronite Patriarch Beshra al-Rahi appeared Sunday to back a controversial move to name an alternate judge in the Beirut port blast case.

“It is unfortunate that the Lebanese have reached a state of mistrust and politicization, which is what’s happening today between the families of victims of the Beirut port bombing and caretaker Justice Minister Henri Khoury,” al-Rahi said in his Sunday Mass sermon.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said that the LF does not want a presidential vacuum, noting that it is Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil who "does not want to endorse any president but himself."

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Friday voiced optimism over the visit that U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein made to the country earlier in the day.

A Hezbollah official on Friday sounded the alarm over the latest U.N. Security Council resolution that extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lebanon on Friday declared national mourning over the death of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

Two handmade bombs were found Friday morning near a building in Milan where the Lebanese consulate is based, Italy’s official news agency ANSA said.

The alarm was triggered after a passerby noticed a package from which two electric cables were popping out.

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein denied in his meetings with Lebanese leaders on Friday the presence of any link between reaching a sea border deal and Israel’s legislative elections, Lebanese TV networks said.

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein held talks Friday with Lebanese leaders over sea border demarcation and the gas dispute with Israel.

“I think we’re making very good progress and I’m very hopeful that we can reach an agreement,” Hochstein said after meeting President Michel Aoun in Baabda.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has confirmed his role in convincing Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati to refuse to add six ministers of state to the new government.

"I am proud that I was able to do so," Berri told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Friday.

Families of the Beirut port blast victims stormed Friday the Justice Ministry, to protest a decision by caretaker Justice Minister Henri Khoury to name an alternate investigator in the Beirut port blast case.

The protesters were forced to leave the building by security forces members. They couldn't manage to reach the minister's office.