Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi presided over a mass service on Monday in appreciation of France in presence of French Ambassador Emmanuel Bonne and a number of political figures, the National News Agency reported.

Rahi prayed for the prosperity and peace in France, saying: “We raise our prayers for the peace and prosperity of this dear country. Our prayers also accompany the beloved people of France, who are preparing these days to elect a new President of the Republic.”

Unknown assailants tossed a stun grenade at dawn on Monday in the southern al-Njasa neighborhood in Sidon, the National News Agency said.

The grenade exploded triggering a fire in a pile of garbage, NNA added.

Two men were killed on Monday when an unknown man driving a four-wheel vehicle opened fire at them in Qob Elias in the Bekaa region, the National News Agency reported.

An unidentified man driving a four-wheel car opened fire at Talal Hmeid al-Awad and Khalil Qattan killing them instantly, NNA said.

Al-Mustaqbal MP Ammar Houri criticized on Monday an electoral law proposal suggested by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil saying “it brings us back to the logic of civil war.”

“The (so-called) qualification part of Bassil's proposal brings us back to the logic of civil war. It is very far from the constitution and the path drawn by the Taef agreement,” said Houri in an interview to VDL (100.5).

The calls of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to re-endorse the 1960 electoral law, must be taken into consideration so as to avoid the formation of a military government if Lebanon fails to approve a new voting system that could push it into a parliamentary vacuum, media reports said on Monday.

“Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has informed the related authorities that he rejects vacuum at the legislative authority because it only means disruption of the constitutional process,” unnamed political sources told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa daily.

President Michel Aoun stressed on Saturday that Lebanon will be a global center for religious and civilizations dialogue, as he noted that the region is witnessing a plan to devoid the Levant of Christians.

“Lebanon can be a global center for dialogue among religions and civilizations, this is because it includes religions and doctrines of the world and its sons live together in it,” said Aoun in an interview with SAT-7 TV network on the occasion of Easter.

President Michel Aoun met on Saturday with Jerome Chartier, the special adviser of French candidate Francois Fillon, at Baabda Palace, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

Jerome conveyed Fillon's greetings and apologies for not being able to visit Lebanon as it was planned earlier, NNA said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged the political authority in Lebanon to stop obstructing the political process in the country for their own personal gains, as he assured that the Christian community does not stand in a weak position.

The Progressive Socialist Party renewed rejection of the so-called qualification electoral system saying it harms coexistence between different sects in the Mountains region, the pan Arab al-Hayat daily reported on Saturday.

PSP sources said a sectarian qualification voting system “blasts everything achieved in the Mountain's diversity between various sects. It harms reconciliation, consolidation, coexistence and partnership between different families. This is more important to us than having more or less seats at the parliament.”

High security measures were taken in various Lebanese regions, especially around churches, on the occasion of Good Friday and Easter, the pan Arab al-Anbaa daily reported on Saturday.

Army units in civilian clothes have deployed among the people and walked with crowds and spread inside the churches like other faithfuls, while other unit forces deployed at specific distances to monitor the movements around the assembly areas, added the daily.