Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Monday the importance of supporting state institutions through the rise of the civil state, lauding the residents of northern region of Akkar for their loyalty to their country.

He said during a visit to the region: “God protect Akkar from evildoer plans to carry out attacks in the region.”

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stated that the government cannot take an “important fateful and political decision” based on media leaks, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.

He told the newspaper: “The government will not take any decision regarding Syria before a clear judicial verdict is issued in former minister and MP Michel Samaha’s case.”

Speaker Nabih Berri lashed out at the March 14 alliance over its uncertain decision concerning its participation in the national dialogue session scheduled to convene on Thursday.

He slammed in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Monday the actions of the opposition describing them as “unacceptable,” noting that the dialogue can’t remain the “prisoner of the alliances’ mood.”

A man was wounded when a dispute between street vendors erupted into gunfire in Tripoli's al-Tal Square on Sunday evening, state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said heavy gunfire was heard around 10:00 p.m.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Sunday suggested adopting the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering, under which each sect would elect its own lawmakers, after the government’s recent endorsement of an electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 electorates infuriated the opposition March 14 camp and Druze leader Walid Jumblat.

“Resorting to the electoral law adopted by the Orthodox Gathering will be normal after the rejection of a law based on proportional representation,” Aoun during an iftar banquet organized by FPM’s Beirut department:

A man whose real name is Milad Kfouri and who has used several aliases was behind reporting former minister Michel Samaha to the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch, LBCI television reported on Sunday, as Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi’s office clarified the circumstances of hiring Kfouri in 2005.

“Milad Kfouri is the central figure in this case and he was the one who informed against Samaha using his relations with some security agents,” LBCI said.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Sunday that “we will not allow any side to meddle in our affairs,” saying that Lebanon will not once again be turned into an open ground for other powers’ disputes.

He said in a statement on former minister and MP Michel Samaha’s arrest: “The judiciary will follow through on the matter to the end.”

The Vatican has completed with the Lebanese authorities the program of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon in September, reported the daily Ad Diyar on Sunday.

It added however that Vatican authorities are “beginning to study the possibility of postponing the visit over the dangerous situation in Lebanon and the region.”

Several March 14 camp officials lauded the discovery of a Syrian plot to create strife in Lebanon, as revealed by former minister and MP Michel Samaha’s arrest, saying the country should cut ties with Syria, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

MP Marwan Hamadeh hoped that Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour “would highlight the development to his Arab counterparts at the Jeddah conference.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Saturday that the current government’s main achievement” is its commitment to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

He declared during a Ramadan iftar in the Shouf region: “The obscure army, people, and resistance slogan can no longer persist at the expense of the state, army, security, and economy.”