The general-secretariat of the March 14 forces is expected to hold several events on Sunday on the anniversary of the clampdown by the Emile Lahoud regime on opposition activists in 2001, An Nahar daily reported Friday.

The newspaper said March 14 has decided to hold the “Day of Repression” events on August 7, the anniversary of the “attack of the security regime” of Lahoud on people demanding more freedom.

A huge fire broke out at around 6:00 am Friday in Souk al-Rawshi building at the Hawd al-Welaya-Salim Salam area of Beirut. Firefighters finally doused the blaze at midday.

In the morning, firefighters evacuated people from their apartments on an emergency fire ladder. The firefighters later brought in a new ladder that fits for 5 people at a time.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Thursday that Lebanon chose to “disassociate” itself from the United Nations Security Council statement on Syria out of its “firm position that it will not intervene in the internal affairs of other countries.”

He said before reporters: “Lebanon does not meddle in the affairs of other nations, especially Arab ones, and it expects others not to meddle in its issues.”

A group of eight international and local groups urged Lebanese authorities on Wednesday to cease the harassment of human rights activist Saadeddine Shatila for his work documenting torture by security forces.

Shatila, who is a member of the international human rights group Alkarama, was summoned by Lebanon’s military intelligence to their headquarters in Beirut at 8 a.m. on July 25, said a statement released by the organizations, including Alkarama, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday Lebanon’s decision to disassociate itself from the United Nations Security Council statement condemning the violence against protests in Syria.

He told Voice of Lebanon radio: “Something must be wrong in Lebanon when 14 out of 15 countries voted in favor of the statement, especially when these countries included Russia, Brazil China, and others of different ideologies.”

Parliament approved on Thursday a draft law on the delineation of Lebanon’s maritime border after introducing an amendment to article 6, two days after the cabinet’s adoption of the decree.

The adoption of the law comes amid a dispute between Lebanon and Israel over their maritime boundary. Both countries are moving to assert sovereignty over an area potentially rich in gas.

President Michel Suleiman moved to his summer residence in Beiteddine for three weeks, while his consultations with top officials over the dialogue are ongoing, including talks with Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

Wissam Baroudi, the president’s son-in-law, told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that the president used his constitutional right concerning the formation of the cabinet.

Turkish authorities have seized an Iranian arms shipment heading to Syria and was meant for Hizbullah, a German newspaper reported Thursday.

The Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Turkish security forces stopped a convoy of trucks carrying a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in the south-central city of Kilis, which is adjacent to the Syrian border.

Hundreds of Islamists held a protest in the northern port city of Tripoli after the Tarawih prayers on Wednesday night to condemn Syria’s deadly crackdown on protestors calling for reform.

Islamist and Salafist groups, in addition to al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah and Hizb ut-Tahrir held the demonstration in Tripoli’s Abi Samra neighborhood in support of the Syrian people.

Lebanon’s disavowal of a U.N. Security Council statement condemning Syria's deadly attacks on civilians is “shameful,” high-ranking March 14 sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Thursday that “despite the unanimity of the other 14 members of the Security Council on the statement, Lebanon’s disavowal is a shameful and disgraceful stance.”