Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has reportedly advised Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat to visit Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun to resolve the presidential deadlock.

“We have a president … He is Aoun and we continue to back him,” As Safir daily quoted Nasrallah as telling Jumblat.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed belief on Sunday that the political powers should elect a consensual president who is not affiliated to March 8 or 14 alliances and considered not provocative.

“As long as the March 14 coalition will not allow the March 8 candidate to reach the presidential post and vise versa, then we should choose a head of state not affiliated to both alliances,” al-Rahi said during Sunday's sermon in his summer seat of Diman.

Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora kicked off a tour on March 14 leaders to tackle the roadmap proposed by al-Mustaqbal chief ex-Premier Saad Hariri.

Local newspapers published on Tuesday reported that Saniora and head of the ex-PM's office Nader Hariri began their tour with Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel during a meeting held in Bikfaya on Sunday evening.

The Vatican resumed efforts to end the presidential deadlock in Lebanon as the papal ambassador Gabriele Caccia carried out contacts with diplomats to tackle the issue.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Tuesday, Caccia contacted several ambassadors of major powers to tackle the presidential impasse.

French Ambassador Patrice Paoli expressed concern over the presidential vacuum in Lebanon, saying the Lebanese should find common ground on resolving their problems.

In remarks to several newspapers on the occasion of France's National Day, Paoli said the formation of Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet earlier this year and the implementation of security plans in unstable areas across the country were not enough to resolve Lebanon's crises.

A delegation from al-Mustaqbal movement headed to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for consultations with head of the movement former premier Saad Hariri.

The delegation will discuss with Hariri the latest developments and the stance from a possible cabinet session on Thursday, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed anger on Sunday over the ongoing delay in electing a new head of state as reports said that he intends to propose the names of new candidates to fill the vacant post.

“The Patriarch's anger is increasing over the ongoing presidential vacuum,” al-Rahi's visitors quoted him as saying in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri stated on Saturday that the resistance is the only response to Israeli atrocities, noting that the “national Palestinian unity will remain the strongest and the lasting weapon” in the face of violence.

"The only response to the massacre and to the violence is the resistance which is the people's sole weapon to deter atrocities,” Berri said on the eve of the July 2006 war with Israel.

The seat of the Maronite Patriarchate totally rejects holding the parliamentary elections amid a vacuum at Baabda Palace, Bkirki officials have said.

The officials, who were not identified, told al-Joumhouria daily published on Thursday that Bkirki “rejects in principal that citizens head to the polls at a time when MPs don't elect a president.”

Lebanon's presidential crisis has already spilled over into parliament, which has failed to hold legislative sessions, but is now threatening to extend its term for a second time despite Speaker Nabih Berri's rejection.

Berri said in remarks published in several newspapers on Wednesday that the parliamentary polls should be held based on the current law if lawmakers failed to agree on a new draft-law.