The U.N. chief’s spokesman and other diplomats denied that Lebanese officials had discussed with Ban Ki-moon the issue of the non-cooperation of four caretaker ministers with Daniel Bellemare, the prosecutor of the international tribunal.

“I am not aware of any such contacts between Bellemare and the secretary-general either,” Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, told As Safir daily in remarks published Friday.

The Lebanese Canadian Bank (LCB) accused by the U.S. of money laundering and links to Hizbullah will be merged with Societe Generale, Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh announced.

Four banks had sought to acquire LCB but Societe General (SGBL) made the best offer, Salameh said late Thursday in an interview with LBCI television network.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has warned that efforts by some Lebanese parties to resort to Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter would have dangerous consequences on Lebanon.

“This is a destructive calculation,” he said about Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s allegation that some Lebanese were seeking for a U.N. Security Council resolution on Lebanon under Chapter 7.

Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri reiterated that he rejects to become a partner with Hizbullah’s arms that have allegedly turned against the Lebanese.

“Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and I preserved the resistance,” Saad Hariri told An Nahar daily in an interview published Friday but said he would no longer defend it “after it put arms in the face of the Lebanese.”

The French and British foreign ministers have stressed that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon should continue to operate despite rejections by the March 8 forces to cooperate with the court.

"France has clearly stated that the STL should continue its work, and Lebanon should keep on cooperating with investigators” in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination case, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said during a press conference he held with his British counterpart William Hague in Paris on Thursday.

Outgoing Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir denied that he had been biased during his 25-year tenure and reiterated that only the Lebanese army should carry arms.

“I support things that I see beneficial to the sect and the nation,” Sfeir told An Nahar daily in an interview published Friday. “I am neither with them nor against them,” he said about the different factions in the country.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati said Thursday he had information suggesting that some parties were urging world powers to issue a U.N. Security Council resolution under Chapter 7, after four Lebanese ministers turned down requests from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon prosecutor to provide information and documents, Al-Manar TV reported.

Al-Manar quoted Miqati as saying that he was surprised by STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare's recent requests given that a draft indictment had been already submitted by Bellemare to STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen on January 17.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams revealed on Thursday that the international organization is currently studying the best way to assist Lebanon in drilling for petroleum in the Mediterranean and demarcating its maritime border.

He made his statements after holding talks with Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil on the political situation in Lebanon and the economic challenges facing it, as well as the government formation process.

French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton hoped on Thursday that the new government would be formed as soon as possible “because Lebanon is in need of its institutions.”

He said after holding talks with House Speaker Nabih Berri that the new government should also respect international agreements and maintain Lebanese unity.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday Hizbullah’s possession of arms, saying that if this issue is not resolved, then any side attempting to constructive governmental functioning will fail.

He told France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo: “Its arms can be used to obstruct the democratic process in Lebanon or take it off its course, similar to what happened a month an a half ago.”