President Michel Suleiman said Saturday that democracy can't be achieved in the Middle East without the participation of Christians in political life and governance.

“Democracy cannot go straight … without the participation of the Christian element - which has been rooted in the East for more than 2,000 years - in the political life and management of public affairs no matter what the numbers are,” Suleiman said at Baabda palace.

Pope Benedict XVI said on Saturday that mankind should reject vengeance and instead pardon the offenses of others, as he urged the Middle East's Christians and Muslims to forge a harmonious society by rejecting some harmful ideologies.

Those who desire to live in peace must have a change of heart, and that involves "rejecting revenge, acknowledging one’s faults, accepting apologies without demanding them and, not least, forgiveness," he said at Baabda palace on the second day of his visit to Lebanon.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani delivered Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday a letter that stresses both Muslims and Christians have equal rights.

“Any assault on any Christian citizen means an attack on Islam,” Qabbani said in the letter that he delivered to Benedict as they met at Baabda palace on the pontiff's second day of visit to Lebanon.

Thousands of Lebanese greeted on Saturday Pope Benedict XVI as he headed on his Popemobile to Baabda palace where he met with the country's top political and Muslim religious leaders.

Lebanese and Vatican flags fluttered, and there was a festive atmosphere on the streets as the faithful greeted him from Sayyad roundabout all the way to the presidential palace.

Bishops at the Lady of Seas sanctuary in Byblos, north of Beirut, denied on Saturday reports that the statue of Virgin Mary is crying tears of blood and oil.

The bishops said in a statement that there wasn't any oil or blood on the statue as media reports and social networking sites have claimed.

The Meqdad clan hoped on Friday that officials would exert pressure on the concerned sides to speed up resolving the case of the family's kidnapped relative, Hassan, in Syria.

It said in a statement: “We cooperated fully with the army and security forces in order to maintain civil peace, and we therefore hope that the issue will be resolved soon.”

Pope Benedict XVI has appealed to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike to "root out" religious fundamentalism, as deadly unrest sweeps the Middle East over a film mocking Islam.

The pope, who arrived in Lebanon on Friday for a three-day visit, has also told the Christian minority in the Middle East not to fear for its future.

An assistant to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Friday that the Israeli military threats have placed “Israeli citizens one step away from the grave,” adding that Hizbullah would be prepared to defense the Islamic republic against any assault.

Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi declared: “If the Zionist enemy one day considered taking any step against us, then the resistance groups, especially Hizbullah in Lebanon, will easily retaliate against the entity.”

Youths on Friday attempted to storm the Tripoli Serail in protest against a film that mocks Islam.

One person was killed and 25 were wounded in the ensuing clashes between the protesters and the security forces.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived on Friday for a three-day visit to Lebanon, saying the coexistence of the country's different religious communities could serve as an example to all the Middle East.

He said: “The Lebanese people have set an example of diversity and mutual coexistence for the Middle East and the world.”