Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Friday that he will accept the extension of the parliament's term if a new head of state was elected, ruling out that he would challenge the decision to prolong the legislature's tenure.

“I would accept the extension of the parliament's term only if a serious and real agreement to elect a consensual president preceded it,” Berri said in comments published in local newspapers.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat welcomed on Wednesday Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun's national considerations into running for the presidency.

“I am convinced with Aoun's patriotic rational behind his candidacy,” said Jumblat following talks with the FPM leader in Clemenceau.

A political settlement is likely to be reached between the country's rival leaders to resolve the paralysis of parliament after Speaker Nabih Berri said he reached an “initial understanding” with Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan to pass urgent draft-laws.

Parliament has been unable to legislate over the boycott of several blocs, including the March 14 alliance's lawmakers and Change and Reform MPs. The paralysis is linked to the presidential deadlock.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea backed a decision by Lebanon to enter a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State and criticized Hizbullah for rejecting the country's support of the efforts to destroy jihadists.

“I am totally with Lebanon becoming part of this Western-Arab coalition against IS … because Lebanon is one of the parties that would benefit from the destruction of this organization,” Geagea said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper published on Tuesday.

Speaker Nabih Berri has denied that he could make a magic trick to resolve the crisis on the parliamentary elections but compared the polls to the rabbit that would be pulled out of an empty hat.

“I think the parliamentary elections are the rabbit” that would come out of the magician's hat, Berri said.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's chances to reach the presidency post still exist, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily reported that Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Aoun's son-in-law, with his Saudi and U.S. counterparts in Jeddah last week the ongoing presidential deadlock in Lebanon.

The singing of a contract between France and Saudi Arabia to provide Lebanon with military assistance is being delayed over a political decision linked to the Lebanese presidential elections, Saudi sources said.

The sources told An Nahar newspaper published on Wednesday that it was up to Saudi King Abdullah to sign the contract but the delay was caused by a “political decision” linked to the outcome of the polls.

Former President Michel Suleiman called on the international community on Tuesday to support the Lebanese government and army in the fight against terrorism.

“Further facilities should be offered and establish an air bridge to deliver the technology and the equipment necessary for assisting the army,” Suleiman said in a televised speech.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on Sunday on politicians to set aside personal interests, urging them to fend off crises.

“We demand political leaders and Christian figures to put aside their personal interests,” al-Rahi said in his sermon during Sunday's mass from Bkirki.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi lamented on Thursday the ongoing vacancy in the presidency, urging lawmakers to exercise their duty and elect a president.

He said: “Lebanon has been deprived of a president for factional reasons.”