The financial general prosecutor charged on Saturday 22 individuals with setting up illegal internet stations.

Judge Ali Ibrahim also charged the suspects with embezzling public funds.

Ashraf Rifi who resigned as justice minister may retract his resignation in light of the prison sentence against former Minister Michel Samaha, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

Ministerial sources predicted that Rifi may go back on his decision to resign.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil held talks on Friday with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri, the first between the two since the eruption of the diplomatic crisis between Beirut and Riyadh earlier this year, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Saturday.

Asiri did not make a statement after the talks, but only described them as “excellent.”

French President Francois Hollande is scheduled to pay a visit to Lebanon at the end of next week where he will hold talks with various senior officials, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Saturday.

He is set to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, and the representatives of various political blocs.

The latest developments in Syria and the regime forces' capture of the city of Palmyra from extremists have prompted the Lebanese army and security forces to go on alert in anticipation of a jihadist backlash, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

A security source revealed to the daily that terrorists have been preparing “an expansion” towards Lebanon to escape the regime's advances.

Questions surround the possibility of holding a cabinet session next week given the ongoing dispute over the appointments of the members of the general-directorate of state security, reported various media outlets on Saturday.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is expected to make his decision on Saturday on whether to call the government to meet on Tuesday.

A dangerous terrorist cell was uncovered recently in the North by the General Security, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

Widely informed security sources told the daily that the extremists were using a religious school as a front for jihadist dealings.

The doctor who confessed to performing abortions to some 75 Syrian victims of a human trafficking ring has been barred for life from practicing medicine.

The Lebanese Order of Physicians announced that Dr. Riyad al-Alam has been prohibited from practicing medicine after he performed over 200 abortions in the case.

The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau announced on Friday the liberation of two girls who were abducted and forced into prostitution, it said in a communique.

Two Syrian girls were freed and a Syrian man was arrested in an operation carried out by the security forces in the Khaldeh region south of Beirut on Thursday.

Al-Mustaqbal movement chief MP Saad Hariri hailed on Friday the jailing of former Information Minister Michel Samaha over terrorism charges.

“The verdict against terrorist Michel Samaha rectifies a former lighter sentence which we have all disapproved and announced that we won't accept,” said Hariri via Twitter.