A solution to Lebanon's presidential impasse is not in the hands of al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri as the latest political activities on the ground are trying to demonstrate, but in the hands of Hizbullah and Iran, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

An official in the March 14 alliance, said it is unlikely for founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun to become president, and affirmed that the “cards are in the hands of Hizbullah and Iran which is keeping it among its stack of cards in Yemen and Iraq in order to improve its negotiations with the new American administration,” the official told the daily.

Member of Parliament Dory Chamoun, alluded to the founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun without naming him and said that old people are usually requested to submit a health record when they wish to sell a piece of property or apply to governmental positions, let alone if they apply to the post of presidency.

“If somebody wants to sell a piece of property and he is above 80 years of age, he is usually requested to submit a medical certificate stating qualification of carrying out such an operation, let alone if he is a candidate for the presidency,” said Chamoun in a statement he made after a parliament session to elect a president that failed to achieve quorum.

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb confirmed on Tuesday that the government would carry on the implementation of its own waste management plan on ending the trash crisis, reminding that all ministers have agreed on it except for the Free Patriotic Movement.

“Facts on the ground have shown that the aforementioned plan was not the best; but there is no other solution,” Shehayyeb said after a meeting devoted to address the trash issue at the Progressive Socialist Party's office in el-Msaytbeh.

A State Security police patrol arrested eight Syrians in Baalbek's town of Sariin in the eastern Bekaa valley for illegal entry into Lebanon's territory, the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

“A State Security patrol in Baalbek carried out a raid on a Syrian refugee encampment in Sariin, east of the city,” said NNA.

The Israeli army on Tuesday carried out a live ammunition maneuver in the occupied Shebaa Farms,the National News Agency reported.

The troops used conducted live ammo drill and used heavy artillery and helicopters in their operation. The sound of shelling was heard in the nearby border towns of al-Arqoub.

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed the need to hold Lebanon's presidential and parliamentary elections and said that the party will be ready for an understanding with al-Mustaqbal Movement when the latter approves the election of Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun, al-Akhbar daily reported on Tuesday.

The upcoming cabinet meeting will take place as scheduled particularly that each of the ministers, except for the Free Patriotic Movement, have committed to attend, as sources assured that Prime Minister Tammam Salam will not step down and will continue to assume responsibilities, ministerial sources told al-Joumhouria daily on Tuesday.

“Culture Minister Rony Araiji, the representative of the Marada Movement in the cabinet, told Prime Minister Tammam Salam that he will meet the calls for a cabinet meeting whenever an invitation is addressed,” sources close to Salam told the daily.

Apple farmers in the city of Jbeil, north of Beirut, kicked off a sit-in on Monday and demanded a government action with regard to helping them sell their products, the National News Agency reported.

The farmers have briefly blocked the Jbeil highway leading to Beirut, and threw their apples on the road blocking the traffic for a couple of hours.

Unknown assailants tossed a hand grenade overnight on the roof of the residence of a Palestinian National Security member in the refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in Sidon, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

The grenade was tossed on the roof of the residence of Nasser Daoud, NNA added.

Free Patriotic Movement sources stressed that they have completed the preparations for the street rallies and are waiting for the start signal from MP Michel Aoun, As Safir daily reported on Monday.

"The plan to kick off street rallies and take action on the ground has been completed, and putting it into implementation awaits the signal of Aoun," the sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.