Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri has reportedly informed Speaker Nabih Berri that he backed a “logical settlement” on the presidential deadlock by agreeing on personalities, who are currently not candidates.

Al-Akhbar daily said that Hariri's proposal on the settlement, includes the withdrawal of the candidacies of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and his rival Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to “agree on a personality who is capable of protecting the political understanding.”

Turkey and Qatar have kicked off efforts to negotiate the release of the soldiers and security forces abducted from Arsal following the clashes in the northeastern town, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

Diplomatic sources told the daily that the initiative is being held in coordination with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri is reportedly expected to inform Free Patriotic movement chief MP Michel Aoun that he has limited chances to reach the presidential palace in Baabda.

Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted informed officials as saying on Friday that “Hariri will personally inform Aoun” about the issue when he returns from Saudi Arabia.

Army chief General Jean Qahwaji is scheduled to travel to Russia soon to discuss ways that Moscow can provide the Lebanese army with military aid, news reports said on Wednesday.

Qahwaji aims to diversify the sources of military weapons provided to Lebanon within the $500 million quota allocated to the army and as part of the one billion Saudi grant in that regard, As Safir daily reported.

Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri stressed om Sunday that Lebanon's stability and security “should be a red line,” reported Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

He told the radio: “We will not allow the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or any other group to impose itself on decisions in Lebanon.”

Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh on Saturday called for unity in Lebanon “to confront terrorism,” reiterating that the army-people-resistance equation is necessary in the confrontation.

"Our political choices turned out to be correct again and now it is time to face dangers and terrorism. We all agree that this is terrorism,” Franjieh said in an interview on al-Manar television.

Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly agreed with al-Mustaqbal Chief and former Premier MP Saad Hariri on the importance of extending the term of the parliament amid the ongoing presidential vacuum.

Ministerial sources close to the March 8 alliance told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, published on Saturday, that the two officials are seeking to justify the extension of the parliament's term by resolving several lingering crises.

The March 14 coalition is preparing for a “general conference” that is expected to be attended by head of al-Mustaqbal movement ex-premier MP Saad Hariri.

According to the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper published on Saturday, the conference is to assess the experience of the coalition and its course of action.

French authorities are seeking to provide the Lebanese army with used weapons under a $3 billion deal financed by Saudi Arabia, the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Saturday.

According to the daily, Paris claims that the arms demanded by Lebanese military experts provoke Israel but the actual reason behind the delay in delivering the weapons is because Lebanon refuses to be granted used military equipment.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Friday that the large influx of Syrian refugees to the northeastern town of Arsal had a negative impact on the village.

“Some refugees exploited the hospitality of the residents of Arsal and had a plan to create chaos in it,” Salam said after meeting a delegation from the northeastern town.