The General Labor Confederation announced on Friday that it has suspended the strike it was planning on holding on December 27.

The confederation made the decision after agreeing on the government’s wage hike, which adopted Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ proposals on the matter.

President Michel Suleiman condemned the "terrorist" bombings in Damascus on Friday, saying they were aimed at targeting the Arab roadmap intended to resolve the Syrian crisis.

In a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Lebanese head of state said the bombings which “coincided with the arrival to Syria of an observer mission's advance team aim at targeting the Arab plan that Syria and the Arab League had agreed to.”

Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji discussed with the French chief-of-staff, Gen. Bertrand Ract-Madoux, ways to consolidate military cooperation between the two countries, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Their meeting took place at Qahwaji’s office in Yarze. The chief-of-staff of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Brig. Gen. Olivier de la Maisonneuve, also attended the talks.

Israeli defense officials have accused Hizbullah of involvement in the latest roadside bombing on French peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL near the southern city of Tyre, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

The newspaper said the defense officials believe French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is right in accusing Hizbullah of having a hand in the bombing that left five troops injured.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas expressed relief on Friday over the approval of the wage hike decree proposed by him, stressing that as soon as the Shura Council issues its verdict it will be published in the official gazette.

“We hope that it will be submitted for publication in the official gazette by Thursday, since it’s before the end of the year and the people will be paid their rights in accordance with the holidays,” Nahhas told As Safir newspaper.

The Fatah-dominated Palestinian Armed Struggle has arrested a Palestinian named Abed Abdullah al-Ghazi on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of the bodyguard of PAS chief Mahmoud Issa at the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.

Issa, who goes by the nom de guerre of al-Lino, told al-Akhbar daily published on Friday that his group’s investigators questioned al-Ghazi, who admitted to carrying out the operation to kill the bodyguard with the help of a relative of Fatah’s commander Mounir Maqdah.

Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud stressed on Friday that the approval of a wage hike decree proposed by Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas was not aimed at sending a political message to Premier Najib Miqati.

“It is all about (defending) the authorities of the ministers,” Abboud told Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) about a decision by Hizbullah, Amal and Free Patriotic Movement ministers to back Nahhas’ proposal rather than supporting a previous suggestion made by Miqati.

Economy and Trade Minister Nicolas Nahhas said on Friday that the economic institutions will not be able to implement the cabinet’s approval of the wage hike decision, hinting that bankruptcy will hit many sectors.

The decision will put on the state treasury additional burdens than a previous decision approved by the cabinet, Nahhas told As Safir newspaper.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat called for the consolidation of ties among the political parties that make-up the cabinet rather than engaging in disputes.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Friday, Jumblat said: “This government should work, and in order for it to function, it should limit” the upheaval.

Former PM Saad Hariri said Thursday that the wage hike decision made by the government is “shameful and a political bill that the Lebanese will pay from their economic future and their livelihood.”

On Wednesday, the Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah and Amal dealt a blow to Miqati after they voted in favor of a wage boost decree proposed by Nahhas hours after the Economic Committees and the General Labor Confederation agreed with minor changes on a previous proposal made by the PM.