A Roumieh prison inmate has died after suffering from a shortness of breath, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday, raising the toll of prisoners who died in the past month to four.

Human Rights activist Ali Khalil confirmed that Hatem al-Zain, 78, died because his health deteriorated after inhaling smoke during the riots at the prison earlier in the month.

Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh on Monday said a meeting between Lebanon’s top Christian leaders scheduled for Tuesday was not aimed at achieving reconciliation among the rival political players.

The meeting, which will be held at the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki under the auspices of newly-elected patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, will gather Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Franjieh.

President Michel Suleiman telephoned his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad on Monday to stress to him that Lebanon supports stability and security in Syria, a Baabda palace statement said.

Suleiman “discussed with him (Assad) the latest developments, bilateral ties and the reforms that President Assad had announced,” the statement said.

Rioting and acts of violence which broke out in Nigeria following presidential elections are taking place in areas inhabited by locals, away from the houses of Lebanese expatriates, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Monday.

Riots spread across Nigeria's north on Monday as results from presidential elections showed incumbent Goodluck Jonathan assured of victory in polls that reflected deep regional tensions.

The Phalange Party praised on Monday Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s call for holding a Christian meeting in Bkirki, hoping that the gatherers would succeed in “unifying a Christian stand on national principles.”

It hoped in a statement after its politburo’s weekly meeting that Tuesday’s meeting would pave the way for others that would include a wider participation of Christian figures and leaders.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat condemned on Monday some Lebanese sides’ hope of instability breaking out in Syria, saying that its stability and security are linked to Lebanon’s.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Geographic, historic, and political experiences and the Taif Accord have proven this fact and therefore it’s crazy for Lebanese political or media circles to hope for instability in Syria.”

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati stated on Tuesday that he sought to avoid getting involved in disputes between the political camps in Lebanon because any statement he makes may be misinterpreted and used out of context.

He said during a seminar at the Bristol Hotel: “I don’t want to become the victim of a certain political position or raise the Lebanese people’s expectations and then disappoint them after the announcement of the new government.”

The deputy head of Hizbullah’s executive council Sheikh Nabil Qaouq rejected on Monday any meddling in Syria’s internal affairs.

He said: “The Lebanese judiciary should immediately uncover the extent of the Mustaqbal movement’s involvement in conspiring against Syria.”

The head of the Higher Lebanese Syrian Council, Nasri Khoury, said he would start contacts with the judiciaries and the prosecutions of the two countries to deal with the Syrian accusations against al-Mustaqbal movement MP Jamal al-Jarrah.

Khoury told As Safir daily in remarks published Monday that President Michel Suleiman informed him during their meeting over the weekend that he should follow-up the issue to “have a clear picture” on the accusations.

Hopes for the formation of a new government before Easter dissipated after Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s circles said that consultations on the cabinet would reach a standstill during the holidays.

While confirming that involved parties are discussing new ideas on how to solve the deadlock, the circles told An Nahar newspaper that contacts are still at their early stages and no final results could be reached soon.