Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that a prolonged delay in the government formation process imperils stipulating a new electoral law that helps hold the parliamentary elections on time, al-Joumhouria daily reported Monday.

Berri had voiced warnings in front of his visitors that he has not been informed of any positive developments as for the efforts exerted to facilitate the difficulties hampering the formation, according to the daily.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is expected to visit Beirut next week carrying a message of congratulations from Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan to newly elected President Michel Aoun, and to highlight the latest developments of concern for both countries following his latest visit to Iran, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

The delay in lining up a cabinet as the result of wrangling over specific ministerial portfolios, raises fears about the fate of a new electoral law that is supposed to be agreed among political parties in order to hold the parliamentary elections slated for May, al-Joumhouria daily said on Monday.

Several political parties are adamant to be given certain portfolios in the new government which is hampering the efforts of PM-designate Saad Hariri to form one. The daily questioned the motives behind the unwavering positions and said that it raises fears as for the fate of the electoral law and the parliamentary elections that are supposed to be held in May.

Hizbullah has hailed late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, whose death was announced on Saturday, as a “historic symbol.”

After denunciations following a decision to build a wall near the country's largest Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, the Lebanese army assured that it is aimed at preventing jihadists from infiltrating the country.

“In explanation of what has recently been circulating about the establishment of a separation wall in the vicinity of Ain el-Hilweh, the Army Command assured that there is no decision to establish this wall between the camp and its surrounding,” the Army Command Orientation Directorate said in a statement on Friday.

President Michel Aoun praised the Lebanese army's efforts on Friday after clamping down on an Islamic State terror group in Arsal and detaining several militants including an IS commander, the National News Agency reported.

The President hailed the “pre-emptive security operation” carried out by the army early on Friday in Arsal near the Lebanese-Syrian border, NNA said.

Claims about some attempts planning to “weaken” the term of President Michel Aoun by obstructing the formation of the cabinet are not accurate, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Free Patriotic Movement sources told the daily that reports circulating about attempts to obstruct the term of Aoun are unfounded.

The Lebanese army clashed overnight with Islamic State jihadists near a Syrian refugee encampment in Wadi al-Araneb in Arsal and arrested an IS commander together with 10 other militants, the state-run National News Agency reported Friday.

The army said special forces and other troops carried out the dawn attack on an IS headquarters in the mountainous eastern area of Arsal.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh emphasized on Thursday that the latest political developments in Lebanon after the election of President Michel Aoun have improved the overall confidence in Lebanon.

Electricite Du Liban daily contract workers staged protests on Thursday and blocked the entrance to the company's headquarters in Beirut to pressure the government into a long-standing demand that makes them full-time employees, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The employees first blocked the customer service gate and prevented the employees from accessing the building. Shortly afterward they only allowed the employee to enter, NNA added.