Cabinet is expected to hold a new session after two weeks due to Prime Minister Tammam Salam's foreign commitments, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

It said that in the meantime, contacts are being held between Speaker Nabih Berri, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji over the divisive issue of the military appointments.

The vacuum in the presidency has raised questions in whether the municipal elections, set for later this year, will be held on time, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Speaker Nabih Berri had informed Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Friday that he supports holding the polls on their scheduled time.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq held talks on Thursday with Speaker Nabih Berri on the latest developments and the upcoming dialogue between the Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah, reported the daily An Nahar on Friday.

Prominent Mustaqbal sources told the daily that the two officials “sought to preserve the contacts over the dialogue and keep them away from the regional tensions” in wake of the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned Wednesday that the region is facing “dangerous challenges,” calling on Lebanese parties to immunize the country and activate the work of the paralyzed cabinet.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Wednesday that the region is witnessing major developments the results of which are “unpredictable.”

He said: “There are signs that a new map of the region is being drawn up on the ruins of the Sykes-Picot agreement.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that the initiative to end the political deadlock “is still alive,” reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday.

“The presidential elections are facing internal obstacles because foreign powers have approved the proposal,” he explained according to his visitors.

Speaker Nabih Berri is taking a positive approach over the various settlements being proposed to end the political deadlock in Lebanon, reported al-Mustaqbal daily on Monday.

His visitors told the daily that he is “optimistic that the national settlement aimed at ending the presidential vacuum and the election of Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh will be a success.”

Speaker Nabih Berri praised Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri's initiative to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

His visitors told the daily: “It is an honest nomination and his initiative is more than serious.”

The last round of dialogue between the rival Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah will be held on Thursday, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday.

It said that the talks were set for Monday, but the death of Speaker Nabih Berri's sister prompted their postponement.

Speaker Nabih Berri received on Friday an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia, but he is unlikely to head to the kingdom “any time soon”, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday.

At the moment, the speaker does not have any trips on his agenda, except two to Iran and one to Iraq.