The national dialogue sessions between heads of the parliamentary blocs kicked off on Tuesday at Speaker Nabih Berri's residence in Ain el-Tineh to address a number of thorny issues that include the election of a president, the formation of a new government and a new voting system.

Berri inaugurated the session by “reiterating the need to agree on a package deal that begins with the election of a president.”

A man who was briefly abducted has been freed early on Tuesday in the outskirts of the eastern town of Barqa in the Bekaa valley, the National News Agency reported.

Late on Monday, four armed men in a Mercedes abducted Ibrahim Qozhaya Rabah on a road between the towns of Safra and Deir al-Ahmar, NNA said.

Security sources said on Tuesday that contacts between the Lebanese state and the abductors of the servicemen to negotiate their release have been cut for a long time, al-Akhbar daily reported.

The contacts between the government and the leadership of the Islamic State group have been cut off for a long time after the IS refused to hand the party, mediating a release, any clue of the destiny of the abducted soldiers, said the daily.

The Lebanese army carried out raids in Dar al-Wasaa neighborhood in the Bekaa region where one person was reportedly wounded, the National News Agency said on Monday.

One man was wounded in raids that the army carried out early Monday on the houses of fugitives from the Jafaar family in Dar al-Wasaa.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji marked Lebanon's Army Day Monday and reassured that efforts to free the soldiers abducted by the Islamic State group will continue, as he renewed oath to defend Lebanon and protect its borders and wealth, the National News Agency reported.

“On your behalf, I renew our oath to defend Lebanon and protect its borders and wealth. I hereby vow before the families of your hero fellows who were taken hostage by terrorist groups that we shall pursue our endeavors with persistence to uncover their destiny and liberate them to ensure their safe return back to their loved ones and to the institution they belong to,” said Qahwaji in his Order of the Day.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri refused to participate personally in the national dialogue sessions with Hizbullah, and assured that he would change his mind if Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah engaged personally in the dialogue as well, al-Akhbar daily reported on Monday.

“Speaker Nabih Berri has suggested that Hariri raises the representation levels of the Mustaqbal bloc at the dialogue table by attending the sessions in person,” reported the daily.

Chairman of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi began an official visit to Lebanon on Monday during which he is expected to hold talks with top officials.

During his two-day visit Boroujerdi is expected to hold meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, Palestinian factions and the Muslim Scholars Committee.

One of the supporters of detained extremist cleric Ahmed al-Asir turned himself in to the Lebanese army intelligence checkpoint in Taamir-Ain el-Hilweh in the south, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

Hani Najem is wanted on several arrest warrants, added NNA.

Brazilian police announced on Saturday the arrest of a Lebanese man suspected of having links to Hizbullah, media reports said on Saturday.

Fadi Hassan Nabha, 42, who is wanted for drug trafficking charges was arrested a week ahead of the Rio Olympics.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has given the approval to extend the term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji for an additional year in light of the difficult circumstances Lebanon is passing through, the Kuwaiti As-Seyasah daily reported on Saturday.

Extending the term of Qahwaji is the “best option and the most appropriate for Lebanon and the army in light of the difficult conditions that the country is passing through and in the absence of a president,” ministerial sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.