Security sources in Sidon revealed that a clash erupted Wednesday night between security guards at a Mall in Sidon and five armed individuals, causing a state of panic among the residents, As Safir newspaper reported on Thursday.

“The individual incident was caused by the rejection of the mall administration to hire a group of youths,” the newspaper said.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel feared that Hizbullah’s takeover of Beirut on May 7, 2008, may be the end stages of a Syrian-Iranian operation to seize control of Lebanon, revealed a leaked U.S. Embassy cable dated May 11, 2008.

The WikiLeaks cable spoke of a meeting between Gemayel, then U.S. Charge d’Affaires Michele Sison, and then ministers Nayla Mouawwad and Marwan Hamadeh.

President Michel Suleiman suggested granting Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji the Interior Ministry portfolio in order to end the dispute over this matter, revealed As Safir newspaper on Thursday.

It added that the President’s proposal came as a response to the suggestion to appoint General Paul Matar to the position.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated that the efforts to form a new government in Lebanon “have reached a dead end.”

He told al-Liwa newspaper in remarks published on Thursday: “The dead end has been caused by the futile demands made by some members of the new majority.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Wednesday that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati should respect the decisions of the majority that appointed him.

He said in an interview to OTV: “Members who don’t have a political presence in parliament should not take part in government.”

U.S. Special Middle East Peace Envoy's assistant, Frederick Hoff, paid a two-day visit to Beirut earlier this week, revealed a political source to Akhbar al-Yawm on Wednesday.

A source from the U.S. Embassy told the news agency that his visit was aimed at discussing the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701.

Lebanon is unlikely to be targeted in retaliatory attacks over al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden’s killing, said circles close to the March 8 camp.

They told the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper that even the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon may not be targeted.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri praised on Wednesday the reconciliation between the Fatah and Hamas Palestinian groups, describing it as a “blessed step” in the Palestinians’ people struggle.

He hoped in a statement that the agreement would pave a way to establishing a Palestinian state and national unity.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams on Wednesday expressed support for Premier-designate Najib Miqati lamenting that the cabinet formation process was taking a long time.

“I take this opportunity to express my strong support for Najib Miqati as Prime Minister-designate and his endeavors to form a new government,” Williams said after holding talks with Miqati.

The March 14 General Secretariat called on Hizbullah on Wednesday to place its military and security capabilities under the state’s control in order to pave the way for national reconciliation.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting that the party should also put an end to its hostile position towards the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and respect justice.