British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter on Thursday stressed the importance of Lebanon's so-called disassociation policy during talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

"It was an honor to meet Prime Minister Hariri and to discuss upcoming international conferences for Lebanon’s security and prosperity,” Shorter said after the meeting.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri chaired a Cabinet meeting on Thursday at the Grand Serail where he criticized media reports picturing “sharp differences” among political parties over contentious issues, saying that things are being exaggerated.

“Anyone who sees the sharp statements circulated in media outlets gets the opinion that political parties are deeply divided among themselves,” said Hariri at the beginning of the meeting.

The Cabinet on Thursday referred to the electoral ministerial panel a controversial suggestion from Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil to extend the deadline for the registration of Lebanese expats who wish to vote abroad in the parliamentary polls, which if approved requires changes to the vote law.

The panel is expected to take a decision on Monday.

Masked armed men robbed the Lebanese Swiss Bank in Beirut neighborhood of Bir Hassan Thursday morning, firing gunshots and leaving with $17,000 in cash, media reports said.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil warned of attempts to introduce changes to the new electoral law saying they conceal intents to postpone the parliamentary elections, as he lamented listing the controversial topic on the Cabinet's agenda, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard on Wednesday hosted at the U.S. Embassy leaders of 32 municipalities selected to receive United States assistance to implement community development projects in 2018.

The new set of selected projects was announced during a public event at Le Gray Hotel on January 17.

President Michel Aoun stressed Wednesday that he will not tolerate any attempt to encroach on his presidential powers, amid a growing row between him and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

“We have reached the extent of encroachment on our powers and this is unacceptable,” Aoun said.

EU Ambassador to Lebanon Christina Lassen on Wednesday opened the conference “Fostering the role of political parties to promote women representation in the upcoming parliamentary elections 2018".

Addressing the audience, Lassen said women in Lebanon “need to feel that they are inspired.”

President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday that the judiciary has the last word over any misinterpretation of laws, noting as “surprising” how a row over officers seniority decree has taken a “negative turn.”

Speaker Nabih Berri held a meeting on Wednesday with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran after holding talks with Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council Ali Larijani, media reports said.