Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday headed a security meeting at the Center House in downtown Beirut to discuss the latest security developments in the country.

The meeting tackled “the issue of Tripoli’s demos, the incident that happened in Tyre when security forces tried to remove illegal construction violations, the issue of the kidnap of the seven Estonian citizens and the measures taken by the army and the Internal Security Forces to preserve security and stability,” Hariri’s press office said in a statement.

Representatives of the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Forest Service joined the Association for Forest Development and Conservation (AFDC) at the Aley Cultural Secondary School on Thursday to celebrate the 41st annual Earth Day with an event that included a theatrical play about forest fire prevention and a training demonstration with a fire truck donated by the U.S. Government.

Earth Day, established in 1970 by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, is observed annually to bring together individuals, private organizations and governments to promote environmental conservation and natural resource management. Preventing forest fires is vital to promoting and preserving Lebanon’s natural environment.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stated on Thursday that the situation in the Arab world requires the Lebanese to exercise vigilance and take a responsible position towards these developments as they may have repercussions on the internal Lebanese scene.

He made his statements after holding talks with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji noted on Thursday that the ongoing political tensions in Lebanon will not affect the army's performance, which distances itself from the political and sectarian divisions in the country.

He stressed the military institution's role during "the sensitive phase the country is going through, especially regarding maintaining the peace and defending its southern border from Israeli attacks."

Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces patrols intensified search procedures at Lebanon’s border with Syria in Akkar in an effort to thwart smuggling, reported the National News Agency on Thursday.

Witnesses informed NNA that the procedures were intensified along the al-Kabir River where Syrian border guards opened fire at individuals, who turned out to be smuggling gas across the border.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed on Thursday that the abduction of the seven Estonian tourists is a clear sign that “illegitimate arms” are hindering the establishment of a real state.

In remarks to a delegation of students from the Lebanese University, Geagea wondered whether it was natural for foreigners to be kidnapped in the country 21 years after the end of the civil war.

Two people were killed and others wounded in a clash with armed forces as the latter were thwarting illegal construction in the southern city of Tyre.

The National News Agency reported on Thursday that residents prevented the security forces from performing their duty, which led them to open fire, killing a Palestinian Wissam al-Tawil and Lebanese Ali Nasser.

Al-Mustaqbal movement denied on Thursday that it was involved in calls to hold a demonstration in support of the Syrian people in the northern port city of Tripoli.

The movement said in a statement that some media outlets and politicians were seeking to accuse al-Mustaqbal of involvement in the invitations for a demonstration against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime on Friday.

A preliminary agreement has been reached between the different parties of the March 8 forces amid hopes that more efforts would be exerted in the coming days despite Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s private visit to London.

Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat quoted March 8 leaders as saying in remarks published Thursday that consultations between Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun through the mediation of Hizbullah led to a “semi-deal.”

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi said the ISF was “thoroughly examining” the online video posted on YouTube in which seven Estonian tourists, who were kidnapped in the Bekaa valley on March 23, pleaded for help.

Rifi told As Safir daily in remarks published Thursday that the ISF was studying how the content of the video could help in the investigation. A security source believed that the video was posted by a professional person to prevent police from tracking its source.