President Michel Suleiman on Thursday announced that he will call for a national dialogue conference to be held in the second week of June, urging the March 14 forces to heed his call without linking it to the issue of forming a new government.
“Of course I will call for dialogue and I have already voiced several calls and informed the leaders of the topics: the defense strategy concerning when and how the Resistance's arms must be used; the implementation of the previous resolutions as to removing Palestinian arms outside camps and organizing them inside camps; and the removal of weapons from Lebanese cities and towns,” said Suleiman in an interview on LBC.

The March 14 forces on Thursday called for forming a “neutral, salvation government,” revealing that they will “very soon submit an initiative” to President Michel Suleiman that is “aimed at confronting the attempt to ruin Lebanon.”
“The Syrian regime wants to destroy the temple over everyone's heads and it is depicting Lebanon as an incubator of terrorism,” said a statement recited by former premier Fouad Saniora following an emergency meeting for the March 14 forces at the Center House in downtown Beirut.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi voiced on Thursday his support for the various calls for holding dialogue in Lebanon away from the threat of arms.
He said: “I do not support calls for the resignation of the government.”

Fed by the 14-month crisis in neighboring Syria and rumors of renewed civil unrest, turbulence across Lebanon is stoking fears the situation in the country may take a turn for the worse.
On Wednesday night, a gunbattle broke out in the Caracas district of west Beirut, followed by a clash that lasted several hours and left two dead, according to security officials.

The rebel Free Syrian Army said on Thursday it is making "every effort" to locate and release a group of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.
"The leadership is making every effort to find out where the abductees are, and to make sure they are freed," FSA official spokesman Colonel Qassem Saadeddine said in a statement.

A video was released on Thursday showing the murder of Elie Numan who was killed in Sid al-Bauchrieh on Wednesday.
Numan, his brother Bernard, and a Syrian worker Tony Nehme were the victims of a shooting on Wednesday afternoon.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly praised on Thursday President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s efforts to strengthen calm and stability in Lebanon in light of the recent tensions.
He said after holding talks with Miqati at the Grand Serail: “The United Nations supports all steps aimed at safeguarding Lebanon’s stability and security and the wellbeing of its citizens.

The U.S. embassy in Beirut warned American citizens on Thursday to be aware of prevailing "tensions" and "violent incidents" in Lebanon.
In an email to U.S. citizens in Lebanon, the embassy urged them to "continue to monitor news reports, avoid areas where disturbances are reported, and be vigilant about personal security."

The United States condemned on Thursday the abduction of Lebanese men in the Syrian province of Aleppo, saying the abduction of people along sectarian lines is unacceptable.
“We condemn the kidnapping of Lebanese citizens in Aleppo and call for their immediate release,” the U.S. embassy in Lebanon said on its twitter feed.

The United States urged Lebanese political parties on Wednesday to exercise restraint following deadly fighting between pro- and anti-Syrian groups.
“We call on all political actors in Lebanon to exercise restraint and respect for Lebanon’s security and to respect the rule of law,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
