The March 14-led opposition held Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui and those who support him responsible for preventing the security forces and authorities from obtaining the telecom data in their probe into assassination attempts.

A senior security official told al-Joumhouria newspaper that acquiring the telecom data for one day isn’t sufficient as the competent security authorities need to frequently analyze and follow up the data in their investigations.

Several al-Mustaqbal movement officials said on Monday that the security forces should have access to telecom data to avert any possible assassination attempt.

In remarks to Radio Orient, al-Mustaqbal movement politburo member Mustafa Alloush said: “Access to the telecom data averts many disasters.”

Confusion on telecom data has become a new source of contention after Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui reportedly withheld information from the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch over an alleged plot to assassinate its chief Col. Wissam al-Hassan.

According to An Nahar daily published Monday, Sehnaoui, who is loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, gave the Intelligence Branch information on telecom data on Friday for only 24 hours after he was informed about the alleged plot.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani condemned on Saturday the attempts by some parties to destabilize the security in Lebanon.

“We demand an end to political assassinations in Lebanon,” Qabbani stressed in a statement.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati had requested from Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Daniel Bellemare that he delay the release of the indictment in the assassination attempts of former ministers Marwan Hamadeh and Elias al-Murr, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

He hoped that the indictment would be revealed after Lebanon approves the renewal of its cooperation protocol with the STL.

Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi confirmed on Saturday reports of a foiled assassination attempt against security officials, reported Voice of Lebanon radio.

He revealed that head of the ISF’s Information Branch Col. Wissam al-Hassan was the target of the foiled attempt.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati hailed on Thursday the Internal Security Forces on their efforts to preserve the national security.

“The security forces and army played a major role in maintaining stability amid the storms in the region,” Miqati said at a meeting at the Grand Serail with heads of security agencies.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Saturday that the year 2012 will witness the fall of the Syrian regime.

He said during an LF dinner at Maarab: “The construction of the state in Lebanon will be possible after the collapse of the regime.”

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi stressed that he has “no information” about the presence of al-Qaida in Lebanon, an issue that has stirred controversy in the past week.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria daily published Saturday, Rifi said the ISF helps the Lebanese Army in controlling the border and combatting arms smuggling.

President Michel Suleiman has signed a decree to promote 24 colonels in the Internal Security Forces to the rank of brigadier general but excluded the head of the ISF’s Information Branch, Col. Wissam al-Hassan.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel announced Thursday that al-Hassan’s promotion will take place in accordance with a decree to be issued on January 1, 2012 after having completed six years in service.