Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi stated on Saturday that the clashes that erupted in Tripoli on Friday came as a response to the government formation.

He said after holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas at the Grand Serail that the cabinet was a product of parliament’s will.

Speaker Nabih Berri rejected labeling his sacrifice of one of AMAL’s Shiite seats in government for the Sunni figure of Faisal Karami as “charity”, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He stated: “Karami represented the entire passed Sunni opposition.”

The Mufti of Tripoli and the North Malek al-Shaar launched on Saturday a series of contacts with officials from Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen in the wake of Friday’s clashes.

His contacts are aimed at paving the way for holding a meeting to set the appropriate mechanisms to end the unrest in the northern city of Tripoli.

Government policy statement discussions over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon may force the committee drafting it to phrase the statement in general terms regarding Lebanon’s commitment to justice and the tribunal itself, an informed source told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.

It said that the final statement may serve to appease the majority and opposition.

Mustaqbal bloc MPs criticized Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s insinuations that the opposition is behind the deadly clashes that erupted in Tripoli on Friday, saying that the loss of one of his major security officials in the unrest made him issue his accusations.

MP Samir al-Jisr told An Nahar daily that Miqati’s statement “on a peaceful and constructive opposition” include “hints” that the opposition is “indirectly involved” in Tripoli’s clashes.

UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh said that the international force has informed the Lebanese army that the Israeli army will stage military exercises along its internal front, As Safir newspaper reported on Saturday.

“The Israeli army will carry out military drills between June 19 and 26,” he announced.

Sources escorting former Prime Minister Saad Hariri confirmed that he is in Paris along with his family, An Nahar newspaper reported on Saturday.

The sources refused to comment on reports that Hariri had received threats against his life.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel denied that the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau is randomly distributing arms among the people, An Nahar newspaper reported on Saturday.

“This will never happen under my tenure,” he stressed.

A cautious calm has fallen over Tripoli following Friday’s unrest between gunmen in the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, as media reports said that intermittent gunfire was heard near the area on Saturday morning.

The unrest broke out when Bab al-Tabbaneh residents staged a demonstration in support of the Syrian people, while the other neighborhood staged a demonstration in support for the Syrian regime.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday described as “suspicious” the timing of the deadly clashes that erupted earlier in the day between gunmen from Tripoli’s rival neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh.

“We stress that civil peace is a ‘red line’ and we shall not compromise it,” Miqati vowed at a press conference he held in Tripoli -- where he was previously scheduled, together with the northern city’s ministers, to hold a popular gathering to receive congratulations on the formation of the new cabinet.