Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi declared on Sunday that “no one” can impose his will on the northern city of Tripoli.

He said after casting his vote in the municipal elections in the city: “I will confront any side that seeks to divide Tripoli according to its agenda.”

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.

The resignation of Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi is likely to be rejected by cabinet in wake of the presidential vacuum, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

It said that a head of state is needed to accept the resignation.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi withdrew on Thursday from a cabinet session after it failed for a third time to address referring the case of former Minister Michel Samaha to the Judicial Council.

He said from the Grand Serail: “I will return to cabinet once this issue is the first article on its agenda.”

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi will make a request before cabinet to refer the trial of former Minister Michel Samaha to the judicial council in wake of his release from jail despite the damning evidence against him in his involvement in bombing plots in Lebanon, reported An Nahar daily on Saturday.

He will also submit to cabinet a draft-law that he prepared to eliminate extraordinary trials and instead call for the establishment of “judicial powers” concerned with “significant and terrorist” crimes

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi condemned on Wednesday the recent remarks of Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad against Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri, urging him against adopting “intimidation” tactics.

He said via Twitter: “Neither you, nor your armed party can decide who has a place in Lebanon or not.”

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stressed on Thursday that Lebanon has the final word in keeping or releasing Hannibal Moammar Gadhafi and that he will not be handed over to the Syrian authorities.

“We reiterated that the Lebanese judiciary has the final word in keeping Hannibal Gadhafi in detention or in releasing him,” said Rifi in a statement.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi emphasized on Thursday that the Free Patriotic Movement led by MP Michel Aoun will not succeed in widening the gap between the Christians and Muslims, al-Mustaqbal daily reported.

“Aoun will not be succeed to drag us against our convictions of Muslim-Christian partnership,” said Rifi in an interview to the daily.

The government failed on Thursday to reach a decision on its working mechanism and the waste crisis but agreed to continue discussions next week.

The session was held at the Grand Serail amid a “disgust” expressed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam over the failure to bridge the gap between the bickering sides in the government.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi held talks on Monday with the family of slain stabbing victim George al-Rif, condemning the “unjustified” crime.

He stressed the need to keep the issue “away from politics and petty personal interests.”