U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Monday telephoned Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Jean Qahwagi and expressed the United States’ “deepest condolences for LAF personnel killed and injured in Arsal,” the U.S. embassy said.
“Those LAF personnel lost and injured were engaged in the fight against violent extremists and the Ambassador underscored the shared commitment of the U.S. and Lebanese Governments in that struggle,” the embassy said in a communique.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Monday on the importance of ending all the political statements over the electoral law that will be adopted during the upcoming parliamentary elections urging officials to prioritize the country's best interest.
“Officials should halt the rhetoric over the matter and discuss it away from any personal interest,” Suleiman said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Monday Syrian National Coalition chief Moaz al-Khatib's “bold” proposal to hold dialogue with the Syrian regime.
He said in his weekly editorial to the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “He may have an impossible mission on his hands, but no other alternatives to end the Syrian crisis, based on the Geneva agreement, are available.”

The Military Tribunal issued on Monday arrest warrants against two Syrian officials over their links to the case of former Minister Michel Samaha, reported the National News Agecny.
First Military Investigation Judge Riyad Abu Ghida issued the warrant against Syrian security chief Ali Mamlouk and a colonel identified only by his first name Adnan.

General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi demanded on Monday to strip MP Butros Harb of his parliamentary immunity over remarks he made on the judiciary and President Michel Suleiman after Mahmoud Hayek was charged with the attempt on his life.
The state-run National News Agency reported that Madi handed over to Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi a request to refer a demand to the parliament to lift immunity off Harb in order for him to be prosecuted over insulting the president and accusing the judiciary of plotting a conspiracy against him.

Head of the Higher Judicial Council Judge Jean Fahd set on Monday the date of interrogations of Fatah al-Islam inmates, who battled the Lebanese army in 2007 in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in the north.
The questioning of the prisoners will kick off on Friday.

The electoral subcommittee resumed on Monday its meetings to discuss the hybrid draft-law that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems.
MP Robert Ghanem said after the meeting that various lawmakers made suggestions over the distribution of candidates between the two systems.

The Mustaqbal bloc announced on Monday an electoral draft law based on former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's recent initiative.
“We presented to parliament an electoral draft law that tackles the concerns of Christians over fair representation,” MP Ahmed Fatfat said during a press conference at parliament.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed that the army will not compromise in the pursuit of the assailants in the Arsal clash, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.
He told the daily: “We will pursue the perpetrators wherever they are and to whichever side they are affiliated with.”

Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed on Monday solidarity with the army over the clashes in the eastern town of Arsal near the border with Syria, saying that it has the full political cover.
“What happened in Arsal is a crime against the whole nation,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
