Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat has allegedly expressed readiness to accept the dumping of around 2,000 tons out of 2,500 tons of waste in Dahr al-Baydar in return for stashing the rest of the garbage in the districts of Metn and Kesrouan.

Al-Akhbar daily said Thursday that 3,000 tons of waste are collected from Beirut, its suburbs, and the districts of Shouf, Aley, Baabda, Kesrouan and Metn daily. Sukleen treats around 500 tons while the rest are dumped in landfills.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri has said he informed Prime Minister Tammam Salam that Riyadh is keen on Lebanon's constitutional institutions after reports that the PM was mulling to resign.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria daily published Wednesday, Asiri said: “I stressed to him (Salam) that the Kingdom is keen on the continued functioning of state institutions, chiefly the premiership.”

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat has stressed that he had no ties to any investment linked to Lebanon's waste management crisis.

Jumblat told As Safir daily published on Wednesday that there was potential for his sons Taymour and Aslan to enter in a partnership with Riad al-Asaad.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam postponed a cabinet session that was set to take place on Tuesday to pave way for more consultations and to avoid a further confrontation on its controversial decision-making mechanism.

A statement issued by the premiership said Salam set Thursday as a new date for the cabinet to convene.

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat did not rule out another extension for the landfill that lies in Naameh south of Beirut to find a temporary solution for Lebanon's waste management crisis.

In remarks to al-Akhbar daily published on Monday, Jumblat said that he hasn't so far seen a serious initiative to resolve the crisis which erupted when the landfill was closed on July 17 in accordance with a government decision taken earlier this year.

Protesters reopened on Monday a vital highway that links Beirut with the South following a pledge made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq not to transfer waste to Iqlim al-Kharroub region without a deal with municipalities.

Earlier Monday, three demonstrators and four policemen were injured during a clash when police tried to force protesters to open the Jiyeh highway.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat defended the army on Friday saying it is the “only side capable of safeguarding Lebanon,” and called on all political factions to “keep it away from any disputes to maintain the morale of the soldiers.”

“In light of the current paralysis that the state and its institutions are witnessing, and with the continuing disruption of the people's interests for unacceptable reasons, the Lebanese army remains the parent organization that protects the nation from the ongrowing risks from all sides,” said Jumblat in a statement.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated that Lebanon should await the outcome of the meeting between Iranian officials and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to determine whether the election of a president will be facilitated, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Wednesday.

He told the daily: “If the Iranian side does not show flexibility regarding the elections and the cabinet's upcoming session, then it would therefore be attempting to alter the Taef Accord.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said French President Francois Hollande has informed him and his son that Paris will always back Lebanon.

“Never forget that France will always be by your side and the side of Lebanon,” Jumblat quoted Hollande as saying.

Progressive Socialist party chief Walid Jumblat stressed on Monday that Lebanon will not be able to confront the financial challenges if the waste of state funds is not controlled.

“Lebanon will not be able to confront the economic and financial challenges if it does not pull itself together and conduct radical and urgent reforms to stop the waste of money in various sectors mainly the energy sector, customs, ministries and several others,” he said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website.