Contacts are underway between the opposition sides and the independents in an attempt to unify the ranks, MP Fadi Karam told Voice of All Lebanon radio station on Thursday.

The Strong Republic bloc lawmaker stressed that the battle the Lebanese Forces party has been leading for months aims to prevent the election of a presidential candidate belonging to the "defiance" camp.

"We are convinced that the Marada Movement Leader Sleiman Frangieh, is Hezbollah's candidate, and we were not surprised by his nomination," he said.