Lebanese Basketball team Al-Riyadi seeks to move on to the Final round of West Asia basketball league when they meet Iranian team Mehram today at 6pm in Saeb Salam Hall.

Al-Riyadi is heading into the game with high spirits, despite the absence of their injured star Jean Abdel Nour.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri commended on Tuesday outgoing Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s positions on various national issues in Lebanon, describing him as “Lebanon’s conscience who always gave us advice on the country’s future.”

He said after holding a closed-door meeting with Sfeir at Bkirki: “The patriarch blessed the Taif Accord, opposed the civil war and led Lebanon to safety.”

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated that the country’s defense strategy was settled in the policy statement of Caretaker PM Saad Hariri’s cabinet when it stressed the army-people-resistance formula.

In remarks to As Safir daily published Tuesday, Berri said the formula remains unchanged despite Hariri’s rejection to support it.

Hizbullah lawmaker Kamel al-Rifai lashed out at the slogan of the March 14 forces ‘The People Want to Topple Arms,’ saying such a campaign would lead to an “unlimited strife.”

In remarks to pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, al-Rifai said March 14 “does not know the harm it is causing to a large segment of the Lebanese” society.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat accused the March 14 forces of taking the country into a “war of civilizations,” saying that President Michel Suleiman isn’t an ally when it comes to government formation or parliamentary elections.

In remarks to al-Akhbar daily, Jumblat described his relations with the March 8 forces, including Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, as based on an alliance.

Lebanon has proposed the demarcation of its maritime border with Israel during a tripartite meeting held at the UNIFIL headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura.

“Maintaining peace and stability was the goal of this tripartite meeting and I am happy that we were able to address all the issues in a constructive atmosphere,” UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas said Monday after chairing the meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli armies.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati expressed regret at the March 14 coalition’s decision to boycott the new government but said he would form a cabinet that is worthy of representing the state.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published Monday, Miqati said he was on the verge of agreeing with March 14 when the alliance announced it would not participate in the cabinet.

France is investigating a Lebanese businessman on suspicion of money laundering after he landed at a Paris airport with €1.5 million, saying the money was to promote the image of Moammar Gadhafi.

Judicial officials said Ziad Taqieddine was detained upon his arrival from Libya on Saturday.

Caretaker premier Saad Hariri noted Monday that it had been decided to commemorate the March 14 anniversary this year on March 13 as his political camp does not want to "impede the interests of the country or the people, but rather to thwart coups, assassinations, oppression, tyranny, falsehood and deceit."

"We will gather on March 13 to say yes to 'Lebanon First,' yes to the will of the people, and yes to the State," Hariri said during a meeting at the Center House with delegations from Mustaqbal Movement's educational sector; heads of the municipalities of Jbeil, Batroun, Zghorta, Koura, Dennieh, Menieh and Central Bekaa; and families from Beirut.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced on Monday that the party will not take part in Sunday’s March 14 rally “as we can only remain in a position that would protect the peace and Lebanon’s unity.”

He said during his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “The party has never prevented the citizens from expressing their opinions but it knows that the people are responsible enough to refuse to participate in an occasion where speeches will be aimed at inciting strife, hatred, and sectarianism.”