Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel slammed on Monday attempts to thwart the presidential elections, noting that some foreign powers are keener on the elections than Lebanese officials.

He said during a press conference: “We will begin meeting with political leaderships starting on Tuesday in order to avert vacuum.”

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat renewed on Monday his support for the Syrian revolt, rejecting however recent reports that some rebels have resorted to Israeli aid in their mission.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa news website: “We reject and condemn any Israeli intervention amid reports of security and intelligence cooperation between Israel and Syrian rebels.”

First Military Examining Magistrate Judge Abu Ghida issued on Monday the indictment in double mosque bombings in the northern city of Tripoli last year, asking for the death penalty against 11 suspects, including four detainees.

Among them are Ahmed Hassan al-Gharib, Sheikh Hayyan Ramadan, Youssef Diab, Khodr Shdoud, Ahmed Merhi and Selman Assaad.

A Lebanese man who was kidnapped in the Baalbek area of Hortaala three days ago, has been released, the state-run National News Agency reported on Monday.

NNA said Khaled al-Nashar was set free by his kidnappers after the mediation of the region's clans.

A bush fire driven by hot winds in the Baabda district forced the evacuation of residents and students on Monday as firefighters struggled to control the blaze.

The fire, which started at around 8:00 am in Betshay, sent smoke billowing into Baabda's sky.

President Michel Suleiman chaired on Monday a largely-boycotted national dialogue session, which called for continued talks on the country's defense strategy and stressed the importance of the implementation of the Taef accord.

The meeting was the last before his term expires on May 25.

Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel is expected on Monday to officially announce his candidacy for the presidency, al-Liwaa newspaper reported.

The daily said that the announcement would be made after the weekly meeting of the party's politburo at its headquarters in Saifi and following planned talks with Metn MP Michel al-Murr.

Head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib has warned that public sector employees and teachers would hold protests again if lawmakers failed to approve the wage scale draft-law in its initial form.

Gharib accused all parliamentary blocs of standing against the public sector pay hike.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed regret at the “shameful” criticism of his planned visit to the Holy Land to accompany the pope, urging the Lebanese to resolve their problems rather than create new ones.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published on Monday, al-Rahi said it was his duty to greet Pope Francis in his trip to Jerusalem later this month, in addition to church laws that a patriarch should make pastoral visits every five years.

Dangerous fugitive Ali Ammoun, who is involved in car bombings, has been arrested in the Bekaa border town of Arsal, state-run National News Agency reported on Sunday.

“The Lebanese Army arrested in Arsal a man called Ali Ammoun, who is one of the most dangerous fugitives who are involved in booby-trapping cars and sending them to the Lebanese interior,” NNA said.