The Cabinet on Tuesday approved earmarking around USD 15.5 million for the organization of the upcoming parliamentary elections, as it postponed the discussion of the long-awaited electricity plan.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Bassam Mawlawi, chaired Tuesday the second Elections Forum to take stock of the preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15.

Amal and Hizbullah haven't reached an agreement on a name for a new State Security deputy chief, MTV said.

The channel learned Tuesday that Hizbullah named Anwar Hamieh from Bekaa, while Amal leaned toward Hassan Shoukeir from the South.

Court of Cassation Judge Rola al-Masri dismissed Tuesday a recusal request that had been suspending the investigation into the Beirut port blast.

Former ministers and incumbent MPs Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zoaiter had filed a request before the Court of Cassation to recuse Judge Naji Eid from looking into a recusal lawsuit against Judge Tarek Bitar.

Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi asked Tuesday "how can provocative seminars and conferences achieve Lebanon's interest?"

"We are Arabs and we will remain Arabs," Mawlawi said, stressing that sisterly countries are helping Lebanon, while "some" inside the country are letting it become "a stage for incitement."

The Israel Government Companies Authority decided this week to disqualify a Turkish company from taking part in a tender for the privatization of Haifa Port, an Israeli media report said.

Mount Lebanon Attorney General Judge Ghada Aoun on Tuesday pledged that she "will continue to pursue Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh until he is brought to justice," after State Security agents raided his residences in Safra and Rabieh and the bank's headquarters in Beirut without managing to find him.

The raids were aimed at enforcing a subpoena issued against Salameh by Judge Aoun.

Cabinet will convene today, Tuesday, in Baabda after its last session sparked controversy as Hizbullah and Amal said the ministers hadn't approved the budget in the session, as it was later declared.

Amal and Hizbullah's sources told al-Anbaa news portal, in remarks published Tuesday, that a new State Security deputy chief will be named in today's session.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati said he won't run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Miqati told al-Akhbar newspaper, in remarks published Tuesday, that he is still mulling over his choice but he is leaning toward not running.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri visited Monday his father’s grave in downtown Beirut.

He had arrived at dawn Sunday in Beirut to mark the 17th anniversary of the assassination of father and ex-PM Rafik Hariri.