The Syrian embassy in Lebanon on Tuesday denied interfering in Lebanon’s parliamentary elections, stressing its “respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

“Some sides are continuing to promote claims about ‘political and security interferences by the Syrian embassy’ in the anticipated Lebanese parliamentary juncture,” the embassy said in a statement, describing the allegations as “attempts to reverse facts and fabricate enemies.”

Hizbullah took part in behind-the-scenes political contacts over the past few hours in a bid to contain the repercussions of President Michel Aoun’s remarks from Bkirki, in which he accused the Shiite Duo of obstructing the probe into the Beirut port blast, a media report said.

Aoun’s remarks came after Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, who is close to Speaker Nabih Berri, refused to sign the appointments of the heads of the Court of Cassation, which is looking into recusal lawsuits against the judge leading the investigations into the port blast case, Tarek Bitar.

The mission of Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar has likely been shelved indefinitely and perhaps permanently, a senior legal source said.

The mission might be resumed during the next presidential tenure, the source added, in remarks to al-Liwaa newspaper published Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday reassured that authorities have no plans to “eliminate depositors’ rights or undermine the banking sector.”

“The government’s priority in its economic approach is to preserve depositors’ rights and not to waste them,” Miqati told a delegation from the Association of Banks in Lebanon.

Three people were killed and two others injured in a huge blaze Tuesday at a tubs factory in the Fanar neighborhood of Zaaitriye, the National News Agency said.

“Red Cross and Civil Defense crews are still inspecting the site in search of possible victims,” NNA added.

The pharmacist Layla Rizk has been found murdered inside her pharmacy in the Northern Metn town of Mrouj.

Conflicting reports have since emerged on whether the pharmacy was robbed or not and on whether the woman was raped or not.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has accused Hizbullah of seeking to “drive a wedge” between the Lebanese people and the United States, in a speech commemorating the victims of the April 1983 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

“Today is a solemn anniversary for us, as we remember the terrible attack that took 52 lives on April 18th, 1983. And in September of the following year – just over there – we lost 23 more lives,” Shea said in a speech.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has said that “the Syrian-Iranian axis and the Free Patriotic Movement” will be running in the parliamentary elections against “what’s left of an independent national decision in Mukhtara and in areas other than Mukhtara.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday called for an end to “the politicization of the judiciary,” as he warned against changing Lebanon’s “economic identity.”

“The Lebanese do not want an alternative to the state and they don’t want a partner for it. They are looking forward to a halt to the politicization of the judiciary and administration,” al-Rahi said in his Easter sermon.

President Michel Aoun on Sunday said “those who are obstructing the judiciary are known,” in response to a question about the stalled port blast investigation.

“The families must go to those who are obstructing the judiciary and they saw who paralyzed Cabinet,” Aoun added ahead of Easter Mass in Bkirki, apparently referring to Hizbullah and Amal Movement.