The controversial issue of the new wages scale for public employees is ongoing as the Syndicate Coordination Committee threatened to stage a nationwide strike on Thursday while local newspapers reported that the cabinet isn't expected to resolve the dispute during its session at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday.

An Nahar newspaper reported that the government will delay referring the new salaries scale as it didn't find the appropriate resources to fund it.

The March 14 alliance is reviewing its participation in the upcoming national dialogue session after Hizbullah launched an Iranian-made drone that penetrated Israeli airspace October 6, An Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The heated debate over the matter prompted the opposition to reconsider its position as it considered that Hizbullah is “usurping” the state's decision-making power.

Cabinet is scheduled to convene on Monday and Wednesday in order to address a number of draft laws, but not the contentious appointments file, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

Monday's session, headed by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and held at the Grand Serail, will study efforts to activate administrative work.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that Iranian Revolutionary Guards are not present in Lebanon, saying that the Lebanese army is keen to safeguard the country.

“We were reassured that the Guards are not present in Lebanon, and the statements concerning their presence were referring to a previous period and they are currently in Syria not in Lebanon,” the PM said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

President Michel Suleiman's national defense strategy proposal allows Hizbullah to keep its weapons but place them under the command of the Lebanese army, a vision that has drawn the criticism of the March 14 opposition alliance, media reports said Friday.

The arms of the resistance would be used by the state until the army is well equipped to take over all defense responsibilities, Suleiman told rival Lebanese leaders during a national dialogue session held at Baabda Palace on Thursday.

President Michel Suleiman is adamant to propose his vision on the country's defense strategy during a national dialogue session scheduled to be held at Baabda Palace on Thursday, Environment Minister Nazem al-Khoury, who is close to the head of state, said.

However, al-Khoury told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday that the discussion of the strategy depends on the presence of all members of the all-party talks.

The cabinet failed on Monday to reach a decision concerning the 2013 state budget as it referred the increase in salaries and compensations for the three top presidential posts of the country, Ministers and MPs to the parliament.

The government convened at the Baabda Palace postponed discussions over the revenues of the 2013 state budget to Tuesday's session expected to be held at the Grand Serail.

President Michel Suleiman tasked on Monday Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn to investigate the Syrian bombardment of Kherbet Daoud, calling on the security forces to act firm with the kidnappings in Lebanon.

Media reports said that Suleiman tasked Ghosn and the concerned officials with raising information regarding the incident that occurred on Monday on the outskirts of the eastern town of Arsal.

President Michel Suleiman said Saturday that democracy can't be achieved in the Middle East without the participation of Christians in political life and governance.

“Democracy cannot go straight … without the participation of the Christian element - which has been rooted in the East for more than 2,000 years - in the political life and management of public affairs no matter what the numbers are,” Suleiman said at Baabda palace.

Pope Benedict XVI said on Saturday that mankind should reject vengeance and instead pardon the offenses of others, as he urged the Middle East's Christians and Muslims to forge a harmonious society by rejecting some harmful ideologies.

Those who desire to live in peace must have a change of heart, and that involves "rejecting revenge, acknowledging one’s faults, accepting apologies without demanding them and, not least, forgiveness," he said at Baabda palace on the second day of his visit to Lebanon.