Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel criticized on Monday the Syrian army’s infiltration of Lebanese territories, calling on the Defense Ministry and Lebanese army to fulfill their duties in confronting the violations.

He said: “The army should perform its constitutional and legal responsibilities towards the Lebanese people and immediately open fire at any foreign soldier who crosses into the country.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stated on Monday that the possession of arms outside the state’s authority is unacceptable, reported Voice of Lebanon radio.

He said before reporters: “The time when Hizbullah lays down its arms would be a great day.”

Mustaqbal bloc MPs Hadi Hbeish and Jamal al-Jarrah accused on Monday the Free Patriotic Movement of misleading the public over former Premier Fouad Saniora’s alleged financial violations in the national lottery in 1996.

They said in a press conference to refute the movement’s claims: “FPM leader MP Michel Aoun has no right to speak of squandering public funds because those who have a history in such affairs are not entitled to accuse others of such crimes.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Monday that reports that he had escaped an assassination attempt were only news broadcasted through BlackBerry phones.

He said on Twitter that he will not “give any more information” about those allegations.

President Michel Suleiman said on Monday a new electoral law is a step towards the implementation of the Taef accord, stressing that it should be based on the principles of the National Pact while following modern trends.

“The electoral law is the right gateway for the practice of sound democracy but it is one of the steps towards the implementation of the Taef agreement such as administrative decentralization and sustainable development,” Suleiman told a conference on proportionality held at the Phoenicia hotel in Beirut.

Al-Fajr Brigades snapped back at al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah MP Imad al-Hout on Monday, saying their resistance will remain no matter who renounces them.

“Our forces will remain and we are proud of our arms and resistance… We are surprised by how some people are renouncing us and our weapons,” al-Fajr brigades said in a statement.

Contacts are ongoing between Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Speaker Nabih Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to resolve the controversial issue of the wage boost, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

As Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas is waiting for the Shura Council’s verdict on his new proposed wage hike plan, sources told the daily that Miqati, Berri and Aoun were holding contacts aimed at reaching a political consensus over the issue.

The cabinet is set to make diplomatic appointments on Tuesday after Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour abided by conditions set by President Michel Suleiman to name three persons for each post and allow the government to choose.

Ministerial sources told An Nahar daily published Monday that putting the appointments on the 48-item agenda of the cabinet came after Suleiman conditioned the minister to propose three candidates for each vacant post.

A parliamentary committee grilled Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on Monday over the controversy that erupted after he alleged that members of al-Qaida were entering the eastern border town of Arsal under the guise of Syrian opposition activists.

MTV quoted Ghosn as telling the meeting of the defense, interior and municipalities committee that he didn't intend to say that al-Qaida has a presence in Arsal.

Israel is concerned Hizbullah will try to attack Israelis overseas in the coming weeks and ahead of the fourth anniversary of the assassination of the party’s military commander Imad Mughniyeh, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Mughniyeh was killed in a car bombing in Syria on Feb. 12, 2008. Hizbullah has accused Israel's intelligence service Mossad of assassinating him.