Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi continued his trip to the Vatican on Thursday by meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in the presence of a number of Lebanese politicians and officials.

He said during the meeting: “It is a great joy to stand before you among a number of Lebanese Christians and Muslims to express our appreciation for being accepted in the ecclesiastical communion.”

Hizbullah denied on Thursday accusations by the Libyan Foreign Ministry that it was sending fighters to aid insurgents in the rebel-held port city of Misrata.

"Hizbullah denies this accusation and maintains that all such talk is unfounded," said a brief statement released by the party, a staunch ally of Iran.

The Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon carried out a combined live firing exercise on Thursday.

The exercise was conducted by the UNIFIL Force Commander Reserve (FCR) and Lebanese army artillery and infantry units.

Syria's ambassador to Beirut urged Lebanese authorities on Thursday to take legal action following allegations a deputy was funding and arming protesters in Syria.

Ali Abdul Karim Ali "requested Lebanon's authorities and judiciary take action ... in order to preserve brotherly ties between the two countries," according to the transcript of an interview with Hizbullah's Intiqad website.

The Loyalty to the Resistance bloc condemned on Thursday the Mustaqbal movement’s activity, accusing it of being responsible for the problems in Lebanon.

It said in a statement: “The problems plaguing Lebanon are the result of the Mustaqbal movement’s policies and governments that have turned Lebanon into a farm” at the American administration’s mercy.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri traveled to Riyadh on Thursday to attend the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah’s sister, a statement by his press office said.

Hariri was accompanied by his bureau chief Nader Hariri and his advisor Hani Hammoud, it said.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati announced on Thursday after meeting President Michel Suleiman that the two agreed to give themselves more time before revealing the new government.

He said after the meeting at Baabda Palace: “After consulting with the President, we decided to wait in order for the government to live up to the Lebanese people’s expectations.”

President Michel Suleiman voiced his concern on Wednesday over the ongoing vacuum in Lebanon given the failure to form a new government.

His visitors reported him as saying that the stalling in the formation process will harm the Lebanese’s interests, especially given the unstable situation in the region, reported the daily Al-Mustaqbal Thursday.

The owners of bakeries vowed to launch an open-ended strike on Wednesday despite a meeting set by Caretaker Economy Minister Mohammed Safadi for Monday to find a solution to their demands.

Head of the Bakeries Association Kazem Ibrahim told An Nahar daily in remarks published Thursday that the strike will be launched next Wednesday and will not reach a halt until the authorities meet the demands of the bakers.

Hizbullah MP Nawaf Moussawi accused the March 14 forces of seeking to avenge the March 8 coalition, mainly Hizbullah and Amal, by pitting southerners against each other over illegal construction on state property.

Moussawi told As Safir daily in remarks published Thursday that March 14, led by al-Mustaqbal movement, sought to “ignite sectarian strife” by pitting neighbors against each other and stirring animosity within the same family members.