The General Security Department was mum on Monday on its controversial arrest of an Islamist for allegedly contacting a terrorist organization, a move that left three people dead in gunbattles in the northern port city of Tripoli.

“We haven’t yet announced our version of the story. We are waiting for the appropriate time to tell the real story behind (Shadi) al-Mawlawi’s arrest,” a General Security official told An Nahar daily.

The Higher Defense Council on Sunday discussed the security situation in unrest-hit Tripoli, lauding the role of security agencies in “preserving security, busting terrorist networks, freeing abductees and curbing the trafficking of arms across the Lebanese areas.”

Speaking after an emergency meeting at the Baabda Palace, the council’s spokesman, Maj. Gen. Adnan Merheb, stressed the conferees’ keenness on preserving civil peace in the country, noting that “to this end, the council has given the necessary instructions to the military and security institutions and specified the missions of the ministries, administrations and relevant authorities.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday stressed “the need to reach a political solution to the problem” in unrest-hit Tripoli that would “spare the army a confrontation on Tripoli and keep it away from political disputes,” warning of “traps set up by the Syrian regime.”

According to a statement issued by the PSP, Jumblat contacted several security and political officials, urging “the release of Mr. Shadi al-Mawlawi and the addressing of the situation according to the legal norms, to prevent the recurrence of illegal arrests by sides that lack jurisdiction.”

The March 14 forces on Sunday called on the government to take care of the residents of Arsal and the Bekaa and the Syrian refugees in the area, urging an “immediate intervention to put an end to the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty by the Syrian regime’s army.”

“From here we say to whomever it concerns that we demand the government to immediately take care of the residents of Arsal and the Bekaa and to heed the situation of the families that had fled from Syria by providing their needs through the Higher Relief Commission,” March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid said in Arsal, during a visit at the head of an opposition delegation.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Sunday that a decision was taken not to provide political cover for any security violator in the northern city of Tripoli, the scene of deadly clashes since Saturday.

Miqati said the decision was taken following consultations with all the political, religious, security and social figures in Tripoli.

Security forces arrested on Sunday a man after he pointed his gun at the convoy of MP Elie Marouni near the Phalange party offices in the eastern city of Zahle, the National News Agency reported.

NNA later reported that the man, Dr. Pierre Hilal, was in a white Honda when he pointed the gun at the convoy after it reached the party’s offices near the Central Bank. The security forces immediately dispatched patrols to the area and arrested the assailant, NNA added.

Al-Mustaqbal movement urged Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Tripoli ministers on Sunday to resign after the General Security Department lured Shadi al-Mawlawi to arrest him on suspicion of contacting a terrorist organization.

Following a meeting held by al-Mustaqbal Coordination Council in the northern city, the conferees condemned in a statement al-Mawlawi’s arrest after luring him to Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi’s Social Services Center under the pretext of granting him a health care benefit.

The premier of Australia’s New South Wales state, Barry O'Farrell, arrived in Beirut on Sunday at the head of an official delegation for talks with top Lebanese officials.

O’Farrell is scheduled to hold talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati during his three-day visit.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri urged the residents of the northern port city of Tripoli on Sunday to end the fighting, accusing the General Security Department without naming it of becoming an “outlaw” in its arrest of Shadi al-Mawlawi for his alleged terror ties.

“I urge Tripoli residents to remain calm and not to be dragged behind provocation,” Hariri said on his twitter feed.

Two bulldozers and a crane failed on Sunday to demolish parts of the Byblos carpet factory building in the town of Safra that was engulfed in flames two days earlier.

The Internal Security Forces diverted the traffic to the seaside Tabarja-Jbeil road to prevent the debris from falling on the highway at 11:00 pm Saturday. One lane remained open for commuters heading from Jbeil to Beirut.