As part of its "continuous and ongoing efforts to fight the cholera outbreak in Lebanon," Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has adapted its hospital in Bar Elias, in the Bekaa valley, to receive and treat cholera patients with an initial capacity of 20 beds, which can be expanded according to the needs, a statement said.

With the adaptations done, the hospital will continue to function for urgent surgical procedures.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil will announce his presidential nomination on Tuesday and will declare “rebellion” against caretaker PM Najib Mikati and the boycott of Speaker Nabih Berri’s dialogue, senior FPM official Naji Hayek said overnight.

Sources following up on Bassil’s political movements meanwhile told Nidaa al-Watan newspaper that he intends to take steps to “pressure” and “embarrass” Hezbollah by telling it, “Either I am your presidential candidate or no one will be.”

The five ministers who intend to boycott the caretaker cabinet “can ask to be relieved of their duties,” caretaker PM Najib Mikati has said, amid controversy over the legitimacy of his cabinet in the event of presidential vacuum.

“We would either replace them or acting ministers can take charge of their ministries,” Mikati added, in remarks to al-Jadeed TV, while ruling out that the five ministers would choose to boycott cabinet.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has re-accused Hezbollah and its allies of obstructing the election of a new president.

Geagea said that if the opposition MPs were unified, they could have elected a new president. "The other camp can obstruct a session or two but eventually it cannot continue to obstruct the sessions," Geagea said, adding that the LF had named MP Michel Mouawad because the majority of the opposition MPs wanted him, although he had run against the LF in the parliamentary elections.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called Monday for Parliament to convene on Thursday to discuss a letter sent to parliament by outgoing President Michel Aoun after he signed a decree "accepting the resignation" of the caretaker cabinet.

"The government is considered resigned according to Article 69 of the constitution," Berri told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Monday.

Caretaker PM and PM-designate Najib Mikati had said that the coming period will be focused on "acting in caretaker capacity to facilitate the state's matters and citizens' affairs," stressing that the best solution would be to "quickly elect a new president."

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil sterssed Sunday that the FPM will not endorse the presidential nomination of Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh.

Caretaker PM and PM-designate Najib Mikati swiftly hit back Sunday at President Michel Aoun, saying that the decree that he issued to accept the caretaker cabinet’s resignation “lacks any constitutional value.”

President Michel Aoun vacated the presidential palace on Sunday, amid acclaim from his supporters, a day before his mandate expires without a designated successor, which threatens a new power vacuum in the crisis-torn country.

President Michel Aoun announced Sunday in a farewell speech in Baabda that he has signed a decree “accepting the resignation” of the caretaker cabinet, as he lashed out at the judiciary and Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh.