As the revolt in Syria drags on, experts say weapons smuggling into the country has flourished, especially from Lebanon, with automatic weapons, grenades and hunting rifles in high demand.

They say that those behind the trafficking are smugglers in search of quick profits rather than political parties backing protesters against the Alawite-dominated regime in Syria.

Sergeant Major Elias Nasrallah, a member of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau who took part in a clash with the kidnappers of the seven Estonians, passed away on Friday from injuries sustained in the clash.

Born in 1981, he enlisted in the ISF in 2006 where he was rose to the rank of sergeant major in 2010.

The government’s measures to tackle Lebanon’s offshore oil wealth are expected to be the focus of Monday’s parliament session, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

It said that Speaker Nabih Berri is eager to get this issue underway, adding that Lebanon’s contacts over the demarcation of the Lebanese-Cypriot maritime border will also be addressed.

Hizbullah and its allies have left Prime Minister Najib Miqati with very little room to maneuver regarding the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, reported the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper on Sunday.

The parliamentary majority believes that the decision to fund the tribunal lies in its hands and not the premier.

A Lebanese security source revealed that Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali’s statements on the abduction of Syrian opposition members in Lebanon does not mean that he and his embassy may not be directly responsible for the kidnapping of the Jassem brothers and Shebli al-Aisamy.

The source told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper in remarks published on Sunday that Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi’s statements on the matter “are accurate and they are based on damning facts and evidence.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Saturday that Lebanon is committed to all the international resolutions especially United Nations resolution 1701, vowing to reinforce the Lebanese army to replace the UNIFIL in the south.

Miqati said during a meeting with Ireland President Mary McAleese at the Grand Serail that he will put his efforts to “strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces to be able to replace the peace keeping forces in the South.”

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel said on Saturday that the clashes that erupted at Cairo between Egyptian troops and the Copts ascend fears over the Christians’ conditions in the Arab World.

Gemayel discussed the latest developments with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi in Egypt, according to a statement issued by the Phalange Party press office.

Economy and Trade Minister Nicolas Nahas urged officials on Saturday to tackle the Special Tribunal for Lebanon away from the media spotlight and “withdraw” it from political discussions, the National News Agency reported.

He stressed that the STL will “be included in the state budget.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Saturday that the Syrian people will be able to arise from the crisis stronger than before, stressing that violence will lead to failure.

“The country that uses violence and not take the path of dialogue will not succeed,” Aoun said during a meeting with a Syrian youth delegation in Rabieh.

Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh has hailed the ability of Syrian President Bashar Assad to prevent “conspirators” from targeting his regime.

In a meeting with a delegation from the “Youth for the National Unity of Syria,” Franjieh said: “The strength of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the love of the people for him and the army’s solidarity have thwarted the opportunity for Syria’s enemies who harbor ill-will.”