Hezbollah and Amal have reportedly responded to two questions, included in a letter that the French embassy had sent to the Lebanese MPs, regarding the required qualifications of the future president.

Al-joumhouria newspaper reported Tuesday that it had learned from the Shiite Duo's sources that Amal and Hezbollah have told French special presidential envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian that they will attend the dialogue.

Four residents of the town of Kahale on Tuesday headed to a military intelligence department to give their testimonies regarding the deadly clash with Hezbollah members on August 9.

A statement issued by Kahale’s municipality, residents and dignitaries said the four men testified as witnesses.

Former minister Jihad Azour has met Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil, on a four-day visit to Lebanon, MTV said Tuesday.

Azour also met former Democratic Gathering bloc MP Nehme Tohme, the media outlet reported.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri arrived Tuesday at Beirut's airport to take a helicopter that will transport them to the drilling rig in Block 9.

Mikati, Berri, caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad and caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamiyeh visited the Transocean Barents drilling rig which will start within a few days searching for gas in Block 9 offshore Lebanon.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has criticized those rejecting a Lebanese dialogue proposed by France, his circles told An-Nahar newspaper, in remarks published Monday.

The sources quoted Berri as saying that it would have been better for the opposition MPs to respond to French envoy Jean Yves Le Drian's call for a dialogue, instead of "betting on other options."

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday slammed those who “have been blocking the election of a president for the past 11 months, accusing them of “violating the constitution, destroying the republic, impeding economic and financial life, fragmenting authorities and impoverishing and forcing the people to emigrate.”

UNRWA says it has received reports that another school compound has now been taken over by armed groups in the Ain el-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon.

“This brings the total number of schools taken over by armed groups in the camp to eight, risking the start of the school year in time for 5,900 children,” UNRWA warned.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Friday offered condolences in Kahale to the family of Fadi Bejjani -- the man who was killed in the clash with Hezbollah members following the overturn of a Hezbollah truck in the town.

Caretaker Prime Minister may take a break from his duties "if some parties continue to obstruct the government's work," al-Joumhouria newspaper reported Friday.

The daily added that Mikati has informed Berri and other officials that he has run out of patience.

Acting Central Bank Governor Wassim Mansouri will visit Saudi Arabia in September for a series of meetings, LBCI television said.