The Syrian National Council stressed on Wednesday that it seeks to establish strong ties between Syria and Lebanon that respect the sovereignty and independence of each country.

It said in an open letter to the Lebanese people: “To this end, the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council should be dissolved and agreements between the two countries should be revised.”

Speaker Nabih Berri reconciled on Wednesday the March 8 and 14 members of parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee after the opposition MPs boycotted it.

Berri headed a meeting of the committee after he exerted strong efforts to revive the work of the group.

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday the government’s policy of “distancing itself” from the Syrian developments.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “It should instead work on fortifying Lebanon against the repercussions of the crisis.”

Hizbullah urged the cabinet on Wednesday to assume its responsibilities and seriously resolve the electricity crisis that caused severe rationing throughout Lebanon.

“Citizens are experiencing a severe electricity crisis” during harsh winter conditions, according to a statement issued by the party.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali noted on Wednesday that the agreements between Lebanon and Syria obligate the two countries to respect them.

He said after holding talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour: “The greater responsibility however lies on Lebanon in implementing these agreements because arms are being smuggled to Syria and sometimes they are being smuggled through Lebanon.”

Firefighters doused on Wednesday a blaze at a shoe factory owned by Michel Daher in Sed al-Boushriyeh, media reports said.

Daher was taken to St. Joseph hospital in Dora for apparently suffering a heart attack after the fire swept through his factory, Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) reported.

Unknown assailants have kidnapped a jewelry merchant in eastern Lebanon, asking for a $200,000 ransom, Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) reported Wednesday.

Bilal al-Affi was kidnapped in the Bekaa town of Talya on Tuesday night, VDL said.

Speaker Nabih Berri criticized on Wednesday the reluctance of judiciary to try a large number of prisoners detained at Roumieh prison.

He told An Nahar daily that the tour of Heath Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to Roumieh prison revealed a “chronic negligence.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed that his cabinet’s term, is linked to its capability to preserve stability, according to newspapers published on Wednesday.

“When (the cabinet) becomes incapable of maintaining stability then we can discuss this issue,” Miqati told An Nahar.

A scandal of red diesel has hit Lebanon after the residents of the country’s coldest areas, who were supposed to take advantage of a temporary government slash of Value Added Tax, suffered from shortages.

During a meeting of Parliament’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, a member of Speaker Nabih Berri’s Development and Liberation bloc, MP Yassine Jaber, stirred the issue of the red diesel shortage during the one-month VAT slash of LL3,000.