Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea praised on Saturday French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe’s recent message to Christians in the east, saying that it reflects France’s history and values.

He said in a cable to the minister: “Some tyrants’ claims that they are protecting Christians are in fact a cover for forcing the Christians to submit to their will.”

The petroleum sector in Lebanon is expected to hold a strike on Thursday, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

The strike will be held as a warning to officials over their failure to properly tackle the price of oil since 2002.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated that the proposals on government spending made at cabinet on Friday are not final suggestions on the matter, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He told the daily: “Efforts are underway to reach a final formula that includes all sides’ views on the matter.”

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil revealed that a plan to invest in Lebanon’s water wealth has been reached in cooperation with several local and international powers, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He told the newspaper: “The long-term strategic and national plan extends until 2035 at a cost of USD 9 billion.”

Two corpses have been found in an abandoned car near Tabraja on Saturday, reported Voice of Lebanon radio.

MTV said that one youth was shot in the chest and the other was shot in the head.

One person was killed and seven others wounded in a building collapse in the town of Tabraja Friday night, reported Voice of Lebanon radio on Saturday.

The victim has been identified as an Indian laborer.

The Maronite Church has expressed its satisfaction with the Mustaqbal Movement’s political document on the Arab Spring, saying that it sets the foundation for ties between various Lebanese sects, reported the Central News Agency on Friday.

This development was marked by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi contacting Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Fouad Saniora to discuss the document.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour telephoned on Friday his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem to discuss the developments in Syria, reported the National News Agency.

Mansour said that Muallem had informed him of the “positive conditions that are returning the situation in Syria back to normal.”

The Army Command stressed on Friday that it will “strike down with an iron fist” any side that attempts to harm it, noting that the Lebanese are counting on it to prevent the eruption of strife.

It said in a statement: “The army will not tire in apprehending the sides that seek to destabilize the country, regardless of their affiliations.”

Nine people have been charged with smuggling arms to Syria, announced the National News Agency on Friday.

State commissioner to the military court Judge Saqr Saqr also charged them for the possession of arms and smuggling and trafficking weapons to Syria.