A high-ranking Syrian security official condemned on Friday Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat’s recent calls to introduce “radical change” in the Syrian regime, saying that the Druze leader has once again allied himself with former Premier Saad Hariri and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, reported the Kuwaiti Al-Seyassah newspaper on Friday.

The official said before a Lebanese Druze delegation: “When the time comes for settling scores, Jumblat will be dealt with in the same manner as Hariri and Geagea, as well as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman.”

Syrian National Council leader Burhan Ghalioun said Friday that Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s recent remarks that the Syrian opposition had presented its credentials to the West were “inappropriate coming from the leader of a resistance movement and a spiritual figure.”

In an interview on Al-Arabiya television, Ghalioun added: “Neighboring Lebanon is a real brother of Syria and it is more than a neighbor.”

Hizbullah on Friday accused the United States of being behind a bombing in Damascus which official Syrian media said killed 25 people and wounded dozens more, describing Washington as a "terrorist."

"This terrorist crime targeting the heart of the Syrian capital is the second installment of a plan by the evil force, the United States, to punish Syria for standing by the Resistance against the Zionist enemy," a statement by the group said.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri on Friday denied what he said was a “rumor” of a failed attempt on his life in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

“You might have heard the rumor about my so-called assassination in Riyadh. My presence here, now, is a natural denial of this lie,” Hariri said in English on the social networking website Twitter.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi hoped on Friday that officials in Lebanon would be inspired by the Bible to conduct their political practices in order to achieve a better society.

He said during the Epiphany mass: “They should not separate their duties from their responsibilities towards God, but instead strike a balance between their political practices and moral values.”

Security forces arrested on Friday the kingpin of the network accused of planting bombs in the southern city of Sidon.

MTV reported that Ahmed Antar, who is accused of leading a gang behind the planting of bombs in Sidon, was detained by the ISF Intelligence Bureau.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour is expected to travel to Libya on January 12 in order hold talks with various officials on the disappearance of Shiite cleric Imam Moussa al-Sadr.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Friday: “I will stay there for several days until the case is resolved.”

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas is formulating a new wage plan to propose before the Shura Council before submitting it to a vote at the cabinet, As Safir newspaper reported on Friday.

Nahhas’ step might create a new dispute between the cabinet members as some might consider that he is bypassing the government by heading to the Shura Council directly, while others consider that this step falls in line with his constitutional jurisdictions.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to stress to various officials the need to resolve the possession of arms outside the authority of the Lebanese state during his trip to Beirut on January 13, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Friday.

He is likely to stress the need to tackle this issue through dialogue, as well as by ensuring the liberation of all Lebanese territory.

Lebanon and Cyprus will hold talks to follow up discussions on demarcating the maritime border, As Safir newspaper reported on Friday.

The meeting, which will be held “soon” according to the daily, will tackle the Israeli-Cypriot discussions to correct the errors in the agreement between the two sides, which “harms” Lebanon.