Pope Benedict XVI accepted Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s resignation, reported L’Obsservatore Romano newspaper on Saturday.

The Pope said in a letter to Sfeir: “I accept your free decision that reflects your humility.”

President Michel Suleiman arrived in Kuwait Saturday at an invitation by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah to attend the country’s 50th independence, national, and liberation day celebrations.

The president’s visit is scheduled to last one day.

A high-ranking French source revealed that concerned circles in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon are continuing their investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the leak of voice recordings conducted by the investigation into the assassination into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, reported al-Liwa’ Saturday.

The recordings were leaked and broadcast by a Lebanese television station.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s sources refused to respond to the positions issued by Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Thursday when he described as “silly” Hariri’s demands in return for abandoning the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

They told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Saturday that Hariri “will not forget Jumblat and his supporters’ stand after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.”

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati announced that the new government is ready, but he is still pursuing negotiations because he does not want to cause a dispute with anyone, reported Al-Akhbar Saturday.

He added: “The reasons that drove me to run for the premiership are the same ones that are driving me to continue in my mission.”

House Speaker Nabih Berri noted on Friday that the March 14 camp’s announcement of its refusal to take part in Cabinet will facilitate and speed up Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s efforts to form the government, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Furthermore, he questioned before his visitors on Friday the slowness in the government formation process seeing as the names of potential ministers all belong to one camp.

The 60 March 14 coalition MPs are preparing to hold a meeting at the Bristol Hotel on Sunday at 6:00 pm where they are expected to announce the camp’s final position on the participation in Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s government.

The daily An Nahar reported on Saturday that the MPs’ statement will confirm the camp’s refusal to participate in Miqati’s government “because he failed to grant it guarantees it had requested, as well as the blocking minority.”

The head of the Syndicate of Gas Station Owners Sami Brax announced on Friday that gasoline will be provided to all stations starting on Saturday.

He made the announcement after holding talks with Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati stressed on Friday that he is seeking to form a government that would rise up to the expectations of all the Lebanese.

He said during a popular gathering in the northern city of Tripoli: "We ask for forgiveness over the delay in the Cabinet formation because we want to establish a government that works for the whole of Lebanon."

It is with great sadness that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon announces the death of Judge Bert Swart, the presiding judge of the Trial Chamber, said the STL in a press release. Judge Swart was involved with the work of the STL from its inception, playing a critical role in the Tribunal’s legal framework.

The death of Judge Swart is a considerable loss both to the STL and to the international legal community. He will be remembered for his wise and thoughtful contributions to international criminal justice as an academic and as a judge. His wisdom, experience, and dedication will be missed by his colleagues.