Security sources have slammed a decision by a judicial authority to prevent the Internal Security Forces from accessing telecommunications records, saying the security of the people was more important than their privacy.

“What’s more important? The security of the people or their privacy?” the sources wondered in remarks to An Nahar daily published Thursday.

The union of bakeries has announced a strike for April 20, a day after a planned transportation strike over record high gasoline prices.

Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas’ “promises have vanished with regard to compensating the sector and resolving its problems,” the union said in a statement.

The Israeli navy has recently strengthened its “indirect cooperation” with the Lebanese navy in the Mediterranean ahead of possible pro-Palestinian flotillas to Gaza on Nakba Day, Haaretz daily reported.

The Lebanese army increased its naval operations and barred any ship from approaching the maritime border with Israel, to prevent any possible provocations on Land Day on March 30, Haaretz said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told March 14 opposition officials that Christians in Lebanon would have suffered from the consequences of his assassination if snipers succeeded in killing him.

Al-Liwaa daily on Thursday quoted Geagea as saying in his address to the officials during their large-scale meeting at his residence in Maarab that “March 14 is in the eye of the storm.”

Libyan forensic doctors are carrying out DNA tests on human remains unearthed from a cemetery in Libya believed to be that of missing Imam Moussa al-Sadr.

Libyan government spokesman Nasser al-Maneh told al-Jazeera Arab TV network on Wednesday that the remains were taken to a hospital in Tripoli for the tests.

President Michel Suleiman is mulling to issue a decree on a $5.9 billion extra-budgetary 2011 spending over fears that public sector employees would fail to receive their salaries and state projects would stop by the end of May.

Suleiman discussed the issue with the head of the parliamentary finance and budget committee, MP Ibrahim Kanaan, at Baabda palace on Wednesday.

The March 14 forces on Wednesday called for referring the attempt on Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s life to the Judicial Council, noting that the government’s “sudden” decision to “stop providing security agencies with telecom data” represents “collusion with the criminals.”

“March 14 calls for referring the assassination attempt against Dr. Samir Geagea to the Judicial Council, given that it was part of attempts to undermine security, civil peace and stability in the country and to target the scheme of building the Lebanese state,” said a statement issued by the March 14 forces after a broad meeting held in Maarab in solidarity with Geagea.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Wednesday that implementing reform would help end the crisis in Bahrain.

He stressed in a statement the need to “launch political dialogue between the ruling authorities and the opposition in order to reach a political solution that can bolster stability in the kingdom.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday that it is Lebanon’s “sovereign right” to explore its oil wealth.

He stated before reporters: “Lebanon has the right to acquire its oil wealth through the resistance should diplomacy fail.”

Baath Party leader Fayez Shukur relayed on Wednesday Syrian President Bashar Assad’s interest in the death of al-Jadeed television cameraman Ali Shaaban.

He said in a statement after holding talks with Assad in Damascus: “Assad also voiced his keenness on uncovering the details of the incident.”