France on Thursday called on Syria to “respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, one day after a Syrian patrol infiltrated the Lebanese town of Arsal.

“If confirmed, this incident would once again highlight the threat the Syrian regime’s oppressive policy poses to the stability of the region,” French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told reporters.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement’s agreement on nominating Judge Tannous Meshleb as their candidate for the presidency of the Higher Judicial Council, deeming it an attempt to politicize the judiciary.

He told the Central News Agency: “This is a dangerous and unprecedented development that is part of Hizbullah’s ongoing attempt to take over the state.”

The Victims’ Participation Unit of the Registry of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has held a two and a half day training seminar for counsel who may represent victims participating in proceedings before the Tribunal, the STL said Thursday in a statement.

“The seminar was attended by 30 people, including 11 Lebanese counsel and 11 international counsel who are on the Tribunal's List of Victims' Counsel or who represent applicants for victims’ participation,” the court noted.

Hizbullah snapped back at March 14 opposition officials on Thursday, saying they were making “dangerous” accusations over the roadside bombing that targeted French U.N. peacekeepers last week.

“The dangerous and unacceptable statements” made by some March 14 officials are a sign that they “are part of the scheme targeting the resistance,” Hizbullah said in a statement.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon announced on Thursday that it has granted the Higher Relief Council $32 million after the transfer of funds to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon were made through the council.

It said in a statement that it made this decision out of “its conviction to fortify the internal political stability.”

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel announced on Thursday that the decree on the promotion of police officers will be issued later today, adding that it will include some 25 officers.

He told Voice of Lebanon radio however that the decree does not include the promotion of the head of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, whose promotion has been postponed to January 1, 2012.

Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi apologized on Thursday to Speaker Nabih Berri and the lawmakers over the words he used during his verbal clash with Phalange deputy Sami Gemayel the day before.

In a statement issued by Hizbullah’s press office, Moussawi said: “Out of my respect to the party’s values and ethics, I apologize to Speaker Nabih Berri and fellow lawmakers over the offensive word I used in my response yesterday.”

The political rift between Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement that surged to the surface lately has increased after Hizbullah ministers approved Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s wage hike proposal, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

“The conflict (between the two parties) require a meeting between Hizbullah Chief (Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah) and (FPM leader) Michel Aoun,” Hizbullah sources told the daily.

Hizbullah and the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Michel Aoun, have reached an agreement to nominate Judge Tannous Meshleb as their candidate for the presidency of the Higher Judicial Council, al-Joumhouria daily reported Thursday.

The appointment of the head of the HJC will be discussed during upcoming cabinet sessions.

Palestinian Armed Struggle chief Mahmoud Issa, who goes by the nom de guerre of al-Lino, accused members of the militant group Jund al-Sham on Thursday of assassinating his bodyguard the day before.

“Maybe there are instructions to continually target the PAS and national security and shove us in internal struggles,” al-Lino told al-Jadid TV.