Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra on Thursday snapped back at Change and Reform bloc MP Nabil Nicola, reminding him that LF leader Samir Geagea "was released from prison because he was innocent, and more than three quarters of the parliament had voted in favor of the general pardon law, including Free Patriotic Movement MPs."

Zahra wondered if FPM MPs "had voted on the aforementioned law while unconvinced of Geagea's innocence."

A Sunni Islamist group in the northern city of Tripoli sent a blunt "not welcome" message to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday ahead of his visit to the country.

Several banners and pictures of the Shiite Iranian leader, who is due in Lebanon October 13-14, went up in the mainly Sunni port city expressing discontent at the visit.

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji on Thursday warned that the military will confront attempts to stir discord.

"There are no negative signs at present of repercussions of regional conflicts on the Lebanese arena," Qahwaji said during a meeting with command chiefs and unit commanders in Yarze.

Residents of southern Lebanon are brimming with excitement ahead of a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is expected to tour the border area with his arch-enemy Israel in a message of defiance.

"I can't wait to see Ahmadinejad get close to the barbed wire and show the Israelis that he has them by the throat," said Abdullah, of the border village of Kfar Kila, who refused to give his real name.

MP Oqab Saqr stressed on Thursday that the March 14 forces is not responsible for the false witnesses, adding that those behind them should be punished.

"We have something to say in this matter … and we possess information that we will present to the judiciary and the public that would serve to eliminate 90 percent of the rumors over the false witnesses," he told New TV.

Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar revealed on Thursday that his report on the false witnesses case in the investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has been ready for some time, but it needs updating.

He told Future News that the updates are a result of new developments that have taken place in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during the past month, adding that President Michel Suleiman had requested the update.

Change and Reform MP Nabil Nicola on Thursday said Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea was released from prison "thanks to" FMP chief Michel Aoun and his MPs.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit denied Cairo was arming Lebanese Sunni groups.

He also denied Egypt was training or financing these groups.

Mustaqbal bloc MP Ammar Houri stated on Thursday that the AMAL ministers' withdrawal from Cabinet on Wednesday would not have an effect on the situation in government.

He told Voice of Lebanon radio that any talk of a governmental change during this current phase would lead the country to the unknown and cause more concern.

The majority March 14 coalition stressed on Wednesday that the Lebanese were fed up with "daily Hizbullah threats and militia-style practices."

It said after the weekly meeting of its general-secretariat that the practices "will not intimidate the Lebanese or dissuade them from committing to the accomplishments of the independence intifada and its gains."