BEIRUT: Lebanon took delivery on Monday of its first vaccines to combat a worsening cholera outbreak — together with sharply worded criticism of the crisis-hit country’s crumbling public health infrastructure from donor nation France.

By Sunday, cases of cholera — a disease typically spread through contaminated water, food or sewage — stood at 1,447, with 17 deaths, since the first were recorded in the country a month ago, the Health Ministry said.

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has said he hopes to end the presidential vacuum but that his cabinet has the right to assume the office’s powers following the departure of Michel Aoun without a replacement.

Najib Mikati said that the country’s constitution allows for his administration’s use of presidential powers, and that he does not seek conflict in the crisis gripping Lebanese politics.

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s outgoing head of state Michel Aoun on Sunday launched a blistering attack on his political opponents and the country’s judiciary as he bowed out of the presidential palace.

In a speech, the departing president said he was leaving behind, “a robbed country, a worn-out state, and institutions that no longer have any value.”

Exiting one day before his mandate expired without a designated successor — deepening the country’s political crisis — he blasted the judiciary for failing to do its job and accused judges of taking bribes.

CAIRO: The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States has clarified in an official statement that it has no media partner in covering the work of the 31st Arab Summit to be held in Algeria on Nov. 1-2.

The league also confirmed that it has no connection with any media organization making such claims.

The General Secretariat called on all media outlets to exercise great care in attributing the information published on their websites to the Arab League or its institutions.

CAIRO: Global developments should not affect the pursuit of solving Arab issues, said Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the opening session of the foreign ministers’ preparatory meeting for the 31st Arab Summit, to be held in Algeria on Nov. 1-2.