Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali announced Friday after meeting caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib that “it is in the interest of Lebanon and Syria to integrate, even if major world powers are pressing in the opposite direction.”

Lauding the stance of President Michel Aoun, the government, Bou Habib and the other ministers regarding the repatriation of refugees to Syria, Ali noted that “the Syrians want to return and they will be safer in Syria than in Lebanon.”

The Strong Republic bloc submitted Friday a petition to Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, requesting that the maritime border demarcation agreement be referred to Parliament for discussion and vote.

LF MP Ghassan Hasbani said in a press conference that the text must be referred to Parliament as soon as possible before it goes into force.

The Hezbollah official in charge of the Syrian refugee file, ex-MP Nawwar al-Saheli, visited General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Thursday and told him that Hezbollah is willing to help in the file, adding that his party’s capabilities can be put at General Security’s disposal in this regard.

Lauding Ibrahim’s stances and his work to activate the issue of returning the refugees to their country, Saheli also applauded the major general’s contacts with the Syrian government and security agencies in this regard.

Hezbollah official Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Thursday accused the U.S. and Saudi Arabia of “not wanting Lebanon to exit its crises,” charging that they are “working on preventing the Lebanese from engaging in dialogue and reaching consensus.”

“What’s happening at parliament’s sessions for the election of a president proves that the interferences of the U.S. and Saudi embassies have blocked and are blocking the election of a president within the constitutional timeframe, because they and their followers want to impose a presidential candidate for provocation, confrontation and dragging the country into a clash,” Qaouq said.

The Constitutional Council on Thursday dismissed five appeals filed against the parliamentary election wins of five lawmakers, Council chief Judge Tannous Meshleb said.

The five appeals were filed by Paul Hamod against MP Elias Khoury (Tripoli), by Mohammed Chafic Hammoud against MP Bilal al-Hosheimi (Zahle), by ex-MP Ibrahim Azar against MP Saeed al-Asmar (Jezzine), by Tanios Mahfouz against Jamil Abboud (Tripoli), and by the Hope and Loyalty list on behalf of Marwan Kheirddine against MP Firas Hamdan (Hasbaya-Marjeyoun).

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has noted that the presidential election negotiations are deadlocked, decrying the lack of efforts to reach consensus over a new president.

Speaking to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Berri said his specifications for the new president are “simple and clear yet essential.”

Parliament on Thursday failed for a third time to elect a successor to President Michel Aoun, stoking fears of a political vacuum after his mandate expires at the end of the month.

In a first round, fifty-five MPs cast blank votes and MP Michel Mouawad received 42 votes. 21 ballots were annulled, including votes for "The New Lebanon" by the Change MPs.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Wednesday said he is against amending the constitution in order elect Army chief Joseph Aoun as president, as he warned that there will be “more than social and constitutional chaos if a new government is not formed” before the end of President Michel Aoun’s term.

The members of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday commended the announcements that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to end their dispute over their maritime boundary and delineate it permanently.

"This is a major step, which will contribute to the stability, the security, and the prosperity of the region," the Council said in a press statement.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Wednesday the so-called Axis of Defiance of obstructing the election of a new president.

"The Axis of Defiance is directly responsible for any vacuum that could occur after October 31," Geagea said.