The Higher Defense Council agreed on Saturday to refer the assassination case of ex-Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and the "latest crimes" to the Judicial Council, Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and the HDC announced.

“During our meeting with (President Michel) Suleiman, the caretaker Justice Minister joined us, so we asked him to prepare the appropriate documents to refer yesterday’s crime and the recent crimes to the Judicial Council,” Miqati said following an emergency HDC meeting at Baabda Palace.

President Michel Suleiman urged Lebanon's youth on Saturday not to be the fuel that meets the interests of rival party leaders, stressing the importance of commitment to the Baabda Declaration.

In remarks to runners in an annual marathon held on the occasion of Independence Day, Suleiman called for keeping the spirit of independence and avoiding dependency on other countries.

Baabda Palace press office violated the protocol after failing to include the name of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam on the list of attendees of the reception of well-wishers at the Baabda Palace on the occasion of the country's 70th Independence Day.

According to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Tuesday, the press office included the names of Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati but failed to place the name of Salam on the list.

President Michel Suleiman is preparing to call the Lebanese foes for a national dialogue session to highlight the challenges of the upcoming stage, local newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Suleiman tackled the matter during a meeting for the national dialogue committee at the Baabda Palace on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri said Tuesday that there has been consensus not to engage in infighting and expressed optimism that Lebanon's political crisis will end soon.

Berri told a delegation from the Economic Committees led by Adnan Kassar that Lebanon is relatively better than other countries in the region despite all its problems.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam denied that consultations were being held to form a cabinet in which the March 8 and 14 alliances would get nine ministers each while the centrists would have six seats.

In remarks to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Tuesday, Salam said: “No one brought up the issue with me … There is an open bazaar on many ideas and suggestions.”

Lebanese top officials will resume efforts to hold a national dialogue after Premier-designate Tammam Salam informed President Michel Suleiman that there was no progress in the formation of the new government.

An Nahar daily said Tuesday that Suleiman will exert efforts to hold the all-party talks by coordinating with Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati upon his return from a private trip abroad.

President Michel Suleiman headed two meetings on Wednesday to set standards for the influx of Syrian refugees and prepare for a Sept. 25 meeting of an international support group for Lebanon at the United Nations General Assembly.

Discussions at the first meeting focused on measures that Lebanese authorities should take to organize the entry of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, said a statement issued by Baabda Palace.

UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Paolo Serra said Tuesday that he thanked President Michel Suleiman for Lebanon's strong commitment to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 despite many challenges.

Following a meeting with Suleiman at Baabda Palace, Serra said: “ I expressed my appreciation for the strong commitment to resolution 1701 that Lebanon has demonstrated in the face of the multitude of challenges it has been dealing with.”

Development and Liberation bloc MPs met on Friday with President Michel Suleiman and Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati to brief them on Speaker Nabih Berri's “roadmap” on the new government and the national dialogue.

Berri tasked his lawmakers to meet with top officials and parliamentary blocs to explain to them his initiative, which he said is aimed at bringing the country's political deadlock to an end.