A sit-in inside the parliament building was still underway Friday, with more legislators joining the two independent lawmakers who had announced they won't leave until Speaker Nabih Berri holds an open-ended session to elect a new president.

MPs Melhem Khalaf and Najat Saliba of the Change parliamentary bloc had begun on Thursday the open-ended sit-in inside parliament to press for an end to the presidential deadlock.

Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf has said, during a reception at the EU residence in Beirut, that the EU has the tools to support Lebanon, should its decision makers decide to make the required reforms.

"This place and this flag are the symbol of a unique model in today’s world. A model that grew from an economic union between six countries to a strong partnership between 27 states, spanning many areas, from personal freedoms, justice and security to climate and health.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday called for the election of “a brave president who is willing to sacrifice.”

Established in 2013, EDUCITY, the leading fair organizer, has launched SchoolTec, the first national exhibition for Educational Supplies and Solutions, which is taking place for the first time in Lebanon.

The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday January 18, 2023 in the presence of hundreds of educators. And the fair will continue on Thursday January 19, and on Friday January 20 from 3:00 until 9:00 p.m. in Mövenpick Hotel Beirut – Lebanon.

MP Melhem Khalaf and Najat Saliba of the Change parliamentary bloc on Thursday began an open-ended sit-in inside parliament to press for an end to the presidential deadlock.

In a statement, Khalaf said he will not leave parliament until MPs hold successive and open-ended sessions to elect a new president.

Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar has stressed that he “will not give up the port file under any pressure.”

“I will not step down from this case,” Bitar added, in remarks to the al-Modon news portal.

Parliament convened Thursday for the 11th time to elect a president, as activists and relatives of the Beirut port blast victims rallied in front of the parliament to protest the stalled probe into the blast.

Lawmaker Michel Mouawad won the support of 34 lawmakers while thirty-seven MPs cast blank votes.

The Lebanese Army on Thursday prohibited an Israeli bulldozer from breaching the U.N.-demarcated Blue Line on the border with Lebanon, al-Manar TV said.

The army had on Wednesday also stopped the work of an Israeli bulldozer by force after it tried to cross the Blue Line.

Activists and relatives of the Beirut port blast victims rallied Thursday in front of the parliament ahead of another presidential election session.

They are protesting years of what they say is political interference in the probe.

The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday waded into the debate over the meetings of the caretaker Cabinet, stressing that caretaker PM Najib Mikati “does not have the right to convene Cabinet without the approval of (all) ministers.”

“He also does not have the right to issue and sign decrees without the signatures of all ministers, in line with Article 62 of the constitution,” the Council added, in a statement issued after its monthly meeting in Bkirki under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.