Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reiterated his warning on Friday that parliamentary elections would not be held on time if political differences among different factions remain.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Charbel said his warning stemmed from divisions among the different parties on an electoral draft-law.

The debate over granting security forces the telecom data is expected to deepen during the upcoming days as Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui rejects the demands while Prime Minister Najib Miqati insists that the work of those agencies shouldn't be disrupted.

“Ministers have to implement decisions before objecting, we can't obstruct the work of the security agencies,” Miqati said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

A decision by the cabinet to extend granting security forces the telecom data after the consecutive security incidents that rocked Lebanon will have a positive affect on safeguarding the country during the delicate stage it's passing through, local newspapers reported on Friday.

“Handing over the telecommunications movement... activates preventive security,” a security source told An Nahar newspaper.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday the importance of committing to the Baabda declaration to triumph over the developments that the region is passing through.

“Disassociating (the country) from the turmoil in neighboring countries is the only way to prevent Lebanon from being affected by the negative repercussion in the region,” Suleiman said after meeting with security delegations at the Baabda Palace.

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi has said he accepted a proposal to extend his term but only for a transitional period, stressing that he rejected staying in office until his retirement age.

Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted, Rifi, 59, as saying that he agreed to extend his term for a year or two when President Michel Suleiman and ex-Premier Saad Hariri suggested the extension to him.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati chaired on Wednesday a security meeting at the Grand Serail to tackle the threats directed against a number of March 14 opposition lawmakers and officials.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said after the meeting: “Regardless of all our training and preparations, we can only provide them with 50-60 percent protection.”

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel agreed with Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui to provide the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau with the text message (SMS) circulated among the Lebanese two months before the assassination of Intelligence Bureau head Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan on October 19.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday, the two officials reached consensus over a certain formula to allow the security agency to obtain the text messages without violating the privacy of citizens.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel headed on Saturday to Italy to participate in the 81st Interpol General Assembly and to hold talks with his Italian counterpart Anna Maria Cancellieri, the Central News Agency reported.

“Lebanon's participation in this meeting will reinforce its presence internationally, its cooperation and ties with foreign countries,” Charbel said at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport.

President Michel Suleiman denounced on Friday the attack against security forces members in the border town of Arsal in eastern Lebanon, calling on armed forces to step up the security measures in the area.

“Whatever the reasons and the motives behind the incident... This act is never justified,” Suleiman said.

The FBI investigation team that arrived in Lebanon to assess the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan completed its mission and left Beirut Monday, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper Tuesday

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told the newspaper that the team “will take its times in analyzing the data that it gathered at the crime scene before making any announcement.”