Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun said on Wednesday that Lebanon came into a stage of “stillness” after the failure of a “promising” electoral law proposal that included the creation of senate.

Aoun told al-Joumhouria daily: “The country entered into an electoral stillness after the failure of the senate proposal, which was withdrawn from circulation despite the fact that it was a promising opportunity to save the situation and introduce genuine reforms to the political system.”

In light of concerns that the US administration might impose new financial sanctions against Lebanon, a parliamentary delegation began a visit to Washington to ward off the threat, media reports said on Wednesday.

A delegation began a visit to Washington to discuss ways to strengthen the Lebanese-American ties, especially after Lebanon has achieved the necessary financial legislation in line with international banking and financial standards, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

The suffering of thousands of families who have had no contact with relatives detained in relation to the conflict in Yemen must end, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday.

Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel on Tuesday, slammed the political authority's incapability to agree on a new electoral law to rule the upcoming parliamentary polls and accused it of 'tailoring a voting system to secure power gains.”

Health Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani said Tuesday that an agreement on an electoral law is making progress, pointing out that discussions are open to various possibilities and are focusing on “particular details,” and al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Discussions “on a voting system are making important steps towards an agreement. The atmospheres are positive, discussions are now only focusing on specific details,” Hasbani told the daily in an interview.

The cyberattack that took computer files hostage around the world compelled Lebanon's central bank (Banque Du Liban) on Monday to temporarily suspend electronic transactions as a precaution, media reports said on Tuesday.

Al-Joumhouria daily said the cyberattack has failed after thorough measures taken by the central bank. But, it is not yet clear whether BDL will resume its normal activity on Tuesday, or whether freezing its electronic activity and related operations will last longer, it said.

Some Christian political parties have accused Speaker Nabih Berri of “maneuvering” when he first proposed the creation of senate as part of a new parliamentary electoral law, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“Berri's suggestion to create a senate was merely a superficial maneuver because he retracted his proposal, under the pretext of expiration of deadlines, after the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces agreed to it,” FPM and LF sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

President Michel Aoun assured on Monday that chances are still available to agree on an electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary polls before June 19 when the term of the parliament ends.

“The possibility is still available until June 19 to agree on a new electoral law. We are always working to guarantee that the rights of all Lebanese components are met,” said Aoun.

Speaker Nabih Berri assured on Monday that atmospheres are positive although the idea of establishing a senate has been withdrawn from a proposal he made on an electoral law.

“Withdrawing the idea of creating a senate by May 15, does not mean that the atmospheres are not positive with all political parties, especially that proportional representation is the subject under discussion currently,” the parliament leadership said in a statement on Monday.

MP Boutros Harb said on Monday that no agreement on an electoral law was reached during a meeting held Sunday evening at Ain el-Tineh, adding that discussions were still underway to improve conditions.

“There was no agreement on a single scenario during Sunday's evening meeting on an electoral law. Debate is continuing in order to improve conditions in the recent negotiations,” said Harb in an interview to VDL (100.5).