President Michel Suleiman reiterated on Tuesday his rejection to link the government crisis to the national dialogue and stressed that the parliamentary elections could only be postponed for a short period to pave way for the completion of drafting a new electoral law.

“I will not accept any misused extension of parliament's mandate and won't sign any decree in that regard,” Suleiman told a delegation from the Press Club.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos will visit Beirut on Tuesday to assess the situation of Syrian refugees and the humanitarian assistance being provided to them, the U.N. Information Center said.

Amos is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Wednesday to find ways the U.N. and other agencies can best support the national efforts in addressing the needs of the Syrians who have been displaced as a result of the 20-month-old conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people.

A delegation from the March 14 opposition alliance visited the Gaza Strip on Tuesday as a show of support to the Palestinian people following the latest Israeli aggression on the territory.

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra, and al-Mustaqbal bloc deputies Jamal al-Jarrah and Amine Wehbe along with nine journalists arrived to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

The Syndicate Coordination Committee went ahead with its general strike on Tuesday to press the government to refer the new public sector wage scale draft law to the parliament, warning of an open-ended strike if the cabinet failed to carry out its promises.

“We have been discussing the matter for 14 months now. The cabinet has to decide during its session on Wednesday whether to refer the draft law or we will remain on the streets,” head of the private school teachers association Nehme Mahfoud told protesters who gathered near the Ministry of Education.

The fate of a new round of national dialogue was unclear on Tuesday, two days ahead of the all-party talks set to be held at Baabda palace, over the insistence of the March 14 opposition officials to boycott the meeting.

An Nahar newspaper quoted presidential sources as saying that President Michel Suleiman hasn't yet taken the decision to postpone the dialogue but could announce the postponement on Wednesday when the March 14 alliance members make a clear announcement on their decision.

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim hinted that the case of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria will be resolved soon, without specifying any date, An Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, Ibrahim met with the families of the kidnapped men on Saturday away from media spot light.

A March 14 delegation will be visiting Gaza to meet with several officials in the district, reported Future TV on Monday.

“March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid will head the delegation going to Gaza on Tuesday,” Radio Voice of Lebanon (100.5) said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday noted that his motto “partnership and love” is inspired by the Apostolic Exhortation which he described as the “path to unity” in Lebanon and conflict-hit Middle Eastern countries.

“This Apostolic Exhortation shows us the path to unity among all people in Lebanon and in the Middle Eastern countries that are suffering the pain of conflicts and animosity,” said al-Rahi in a sermon he delivered in the Vatican during the first mass he presides over since he was promoted to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Phalange party rejected on Monday postponing the upcoming parliamentary elections, calling upon all parties to separate this issue from their political stances towards the cabinet and from boycotting its work.

"We warn against any attempt to postpone the elections,” said the statement released after the weekly meeting of the party's political bureau, adding that elections are “a strictly constitutional matter that should not be manipulated under any excuse”.

An armed clash broke out on Monday between unknown gunmen and the owner of a liquor store in the Beqaa town of Baalbek, reported the National News Agency.

It said that the gunmen, driving in Range Rovers, stormed the store, which is located in front of the Jalil Palestinian refugee camp.