British Ambassador Tom Fletcher warned Lebanon that any procrastination in funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would be a “bad sign” and pave way for impunity.

In remarks to An Nahar daily on Tuesday, Fletcher said non-commitment to Lebanon’s obligations to the STL would pave way for criticism that Lebanon belongs to Hizbullah and would obstruct the culture of ending impunity.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati continues to insist on the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon despite all the disagreements between members of the cabinet over the issue, As Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Sources close to the PM said the rumors indicating that Miqati will resign if the cabinet doesn’t approve the funding of the STL expresses the opinions of those political parties and not his position.

The parliamentary defense committee on Monday held calm talks on the abduction of Middle East Airlines engineer Joseph Sader in 2009 but opposition MPs hinted that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel didn’t provide the conferees with enough information on the issue.

Unlike the meetings of the human rights committee that discussed several kidnappings, including the disappearance of Syrian opposition figures in Lebanon, Monday’s deliberations were calm.

Families of prisoners in Lebanese jails blocked several roads with burning tires on Tuesday demanding a general amnesty for the inmates, the National News Agency reported.

“We will preserve security during our protests in Beirut. We have coordinated with the security forces our movement,” head of the detainees committees Khodor Habib told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Tuesday that officials should deal wisely with the funding of the Special Tribunal of Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Prime minister Rafik Hariri since the timeframe ends at the beginning of March.

“There’s no reason for us to rush with the STL issue,” Berri said in remarks to As Safir newspaper.

The Phalange Party stressed on Monday the need to fortify Lebanon against the repercussions of the developments in the Arab world.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The situation in the region requires constant contacts between the leaderships in Lebanon and the Arab, regional, and international scenes.”

The Army Command stressed on Monday its coordination with Syrian authorities in maintaining security and stability between the two sides.

It said in a statement: “Our units immediately intervene to tackle any violation that may take place along the Lebanese-Syrian border.”

The Christian Lady of the Mountain Gathering issued on Monday amendments to the document it issued on October 23, revealing that it has also formed a follow-up committee to tackle the Gathering’s future steps.

The amendments included “emphasizing the role of the church in establishing the foundations and principles of the Taef accord seeing as the agreement is an example of what Lebanon can offer in democracy in the Arab world, which is based on citizenship and diversity,” it announced during a press conference.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Monday those who are seeking to “impoverish” Christians in the East, saying that the martyrs in Iraq are pledging for the help of the officials to safeguard stability and peace.

“Those who were martyred were a sacrifice for our beloved Iraq to implement peace, justice and stability,” al-Rahi said in a mass on the first anniversary of the attack on Our Lady of Salvation church in Baghdad.

Security authorities at Rafik Hariri International Airport have arrested a Syrian national accused of smuggling weapons, Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) reported Monday.

VDL said Mohammed Shaker Toufiq was arrested in the early hours of Monday.