The imam of Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah Mosque, Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir, on Sunday stressed that he does not have a problem with the Shiite sect but rather with Hizbullah, calling for coexistence with Christians in the northern region of Akkar.

“Accusations linking Akkar to terrorism are baseless and there is an attempt by some parties to distort the image of Sunni Muslims, especially in the North, because they are hosting the Syrian refugees,” Asir said during a rally organized by Akkar Youth in the area of al-Abdeh.

The army deployed heavily in several Tripoli streets on Sunday after a priest was assaulted by several men.

"Priest Abdullah Skaff was beaten up by young men who were smoking shisha outside the Greek Catholic bishopric in Tripoli's al-Zahriyeh area,” Radio Voice of Lebanon (100.5) reported.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said on Sunday that the elections of the Higher Islamic Council, which will become illegitimate after the end of its term, should be held within the legitimate timeframe.

Following a visit to former Prime Minister Omar Karami at his residence in the northern city of Tripoli, the mufti said the members of the Council will be elected after the list of names of eligible voters is issued.

Civil Defense members rescued on Sunday three people injured in a skiing accident that involved four other skiers in a mountainous area of Baabda district, Tarshish Municipal chief Gaby Semaan and the National News Agency reported.

Semaan told MTV that the three skiers were lifted from a cave they fell in on Mount Kneisseh in an area between the villages of Tarshish and Kfarsalwan which lie at an elevation of around 1,500 meters.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Sunday the need for honest dialogue and urged politicians not to tamper with the fate of the nation and the people.

In his sermon during mass in Bkirki, al-Rahi said there was no excuse for fears not to hold dialogue.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Sunday readiness to meet with his foes to find a solution to Lebanon's political crisis, saying mockingly that fighting is the alternative to dialogue among bickering politicians.

“I am ready to meet with anyone to find a solution” to the political crisis, Aoun said following talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki.

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said Sunday that the government should adopt a new plan to confront the social, economic and security challenges that Lebanon is facing by the rising influx of Syrian refugees.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Abou Faour said a ministerial committee tasked with finding solutions to the rising number of displaced Syrians will hold a meeting under the chairmanship of Premier Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail on Wednesday.

Minister of Environment Nazem al-Khoury defended President Michel Suleiman against critics, saying it was his duty to give instructions to the foreign minister for diplomats to abide by the protocol.

“It is the duty of the president to give initial instructions to the foreign minister to draw to the attention of ambassadors the need to abide by the norms,” al-Khoury told An Nahar newspaper published on Sunday.

The March 14 opposition coalition will inform President Michel Suleiman about its official stance from the national dialogue session set to be held on January 7 after the New Year, sources said Sunday.

The informed sources told An Nahar newspaper that the alliance's leaders are waiting for the president's return from his vacation abroad to hold consultations and inform him about their position from the all-party talks.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat denied on Sunday holding talks with Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun, saying he doesn't keep such meetings secret.

In remarks to An Nahar newspaper, Jumblat said: “I am not used to holding such secret meetings. But if they do take place, then I would announce them.”