Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated on Monday that his party will not “stoop so low as to respond to some thugs” who have recently criticized his positions on Syria.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Such slogans only reflect their political bankruptcy and their claims of defiance are really aimed at achieving Israeli goals.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted on Sunday that the longer the Syrian crisis lasts, the greater the chances of extremists coming to power should the current regime be overthrown.

He said: “Those fearing the rise of extremists should quickly end the Syrian crisis.”

President Michel Suleiman urged all parties on Monday to agree on the foundations that would lead to a solution to the dispute on extra-budgetary spending.

In a statement issued by Baabda palace, Suleiman said a resolution to the bickering should help state institutions continue their work in the service of the citizens.

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun accused March 14 lawmakers on Monday of “escaping” from the parliament despite a draft-law proposed by them to legalize extra-budgetary spending made since 2006.

In remarks from parliament, Aoun said: “Minority MPs have proposed an urgent draft-law but escaped” from the session which was adjourned due to lack of quorum.

The Lebanese navy rescued three brothers off the coast of the southern city of Tyre after they were stranded in their boat for eight hours, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

NNA identified the brothers as Mikhael, Jerjes and Metri Jouni.

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said around 2,000 people entered from Syria into Lebanon on Sunday, escaping the deadly crackdown by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad on protestors.

“Around 2,000 people entered Lebanese territories yesterday. Ten percent are families while the rest are youth,” Abou Faour told An Nahar daily published Monday.

A Lebanese national Pierre Shaqib Daher visited Lebanon in the past few weeks at the head of a Hungarian official delegation, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

Daher is a Hungarian MP affiliated since 1989 in the Youth party in Budapest, which chose him to represent it in the Hungarian parliament after winning a seat during the 2010 elections.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is expected to make a speech through a giant screen during the announcement of a new political document by his al-Mustaqbal movement on Wednesday, An Nahar daily said.

According to An Nahar, Hariri will invite all Lebanese to consolidate Lebanon and urge them not to link the fate of any party to the Syrian regime.

President Michel Suleiman is seeking to amend the age of retirement for the army commander, suggesting that it be raised to 62 instead of 58, As Safir newspaper reported.

“We don’t want to have to extend the mandate of General Jean Qahwaji (when he reaches the age of retirement),” Suleiman told the daily.

A boycott by March 14 MPs and lawmakers from MP Walid Jumblat’s National Struggle Front of a crucial parliamentary session on Monday is likely to lead to an open-ended crisis on extra-budgetary spending made in the past six years.

Speaker Nabih Berri’s office announced the adjournment of the session to March 15 over lack of quorum.