The head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Defense Office Francois Roux revealed that Prosecutor Judge Daniel Bellemare, Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen, and the Defense team will convene soon to assess proceedings of the tribunal.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that in absentia trials are much more difficult for the Defense, explaining that it requires time to evaluate the Prosecution’s file.

The head of the General Labor Confederation Ghassan Ghosn described as “good” his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday.

He told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday: “We discussed figures on inflation and we set our demands.”

Russia will likely veto any United Nations Security Council action against Lebanon should it fail to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, reported the daily al-Liwaa on Saturday.

An informed source told the daily that Syrian and Iranian circles view Russia and China’s veto of a U.N. resolution against Syria’s deadly crackdown on protests earlier this week as a turning point in relations between them.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji is expected to travel to the United States on Monday where he is scheduled to hold talks with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

A prominent military source told the daily that the visit is aimed at “requesting military support for the Lebanese army, as well as providing it with weapons and logistic equipment.”

The French Foreign Minister voiced on Friday its “deep concern” over the safety of Syrians in Lebanon in light of reports that the Syrian army had infiltrated Lebanese territory on Thursday where it killed a Syrian national living near the border.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stressed during a press conference that France is committed to an independent, sovereign, and secure Lebanon.

A number of Lebanese citizens living in the North demanded the Lebanese and Arab governments Friday to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus in a protest against the repression of demonstrations which had started in the Middle of last March.

According to National News Agency, a number of people from the North took part in a march in Tripoli “in solidarity with the Syrian people at an invitation from the Secular Gathering in Lebanon amidst strict security measures taken by the army and internal security forces.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Friday that Lebanon is passing through an “unenviable” phase given the weak security situation and lack of justice and an incompetent state.

He said during the LF students’ graduation ceremony: “It’s natural that the security of a country be destabilized, but for it to be destabilized on a daily basis for the sake of one party is unacceptable.”

Israel has warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that should Tel Aviv be attacked, then it will retaliate by bombing the Gaza Strip and the whole of Lebanon.

Israel’s NFC website reported that the Jewish state’s government relayed this message to the Syrian president through European intelligence circles.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Appeals Chamber ruled on Friday that statements of certain witnesses must be provided by Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare to former General Security chief Jamil Sayyed swiftly, it said in a statement.

The decision confirms in part an earlier ruling by Pre Trial Judge Daniel Fransen ordering that the documents be disclosed, it continued.

The Lady of the Mountain Gathering announced from the Press Syndicate on Friday that it will hold its meeting at the Regency Palace Hotel in Adma on October 23.

The meeting will be aimed at tackling the Christians’ message in the Middle East and stress their role in the Arab Spring.