A meeting between Christian lawmakers was held on Tuesday to coordinate stances regarding the latest dispute at the parliament which led them to boycott its sessions.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Thursday, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil and MP Ibrahim Kanaan, who are loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan and Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel held talks in Bikfaya from 11:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati shrugged off the criticism of the March 14 opposition coalition on the so-called telecom data, saying security apparatuses were satisfied with the data that were being handed over.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published Thursday, Miqati said: “There isn’t any negligence and the security bodies are satisfied with the level of information that they are getting.”

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed that the alliance with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is firm and will not collapse, al-Akhbar newspaper published on Thursday.

Nasrallah hailed Aoun’s stances, noting that his party is exerting efforts to resolve the dispute among the March 8 parliamentary majority, the daily said.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Trial Chamber rejected motions by the defense counsel for the four accused to suspend or reconsider in absentia proceedings, it announced in a press release on Wednesday.

“The defense counsel had argued in their motions that in absentia trials are a violation of human rights and that the accused were not properly notified of the charges against them,” it explained.

Lebanese authorities have released a Syrian dissident who was arrested on the weekend upon his arrival from Egypt, Syrian activists said.

"Zakaria Mutlak was released this evening," Beirut-based Syrian activist Kinan Ali told Agence France Presse, without elaborating.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi noted on Wednesday that the powers carrying out assassinations in Lebanon enjoy political cover.

He said before reporters at his Diman summer residence: “The spread of arms in Lebanon outside the authority of the state is to blame for the return of assassinations.”

A group of hackers on Wednesday infiltrated the website of the Israeli right-wing newspaper Maariv and placed the picture of slain Hizbullah leader Imad Mughniyeh on its front page.

The hackers also penetrated the website’s horoscope page and changed its link to point to a site commemorating Mughniyeh.

The March 14 General Secretariat slammed on Wednesday the government’s competency, renewing its demand for its resignation.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The frequent protests and sit-ins are a sign of the government’s inability to tackle the people’s concerns.”

Israeli troops crossed the barbed wire fence in the Wazzani area at dawn Wednesday and stayed at the river’s eastern bank for several hours before withdrawing to Israeli territories, the National News Agency reported.

NNA said an 11-member patrol crossed the fence at around 3:00 am and remained until 7:30 am near the area of al-Muntazahat.

Judge Elie Helou issued a verdict in the case of a teacher who was accused of sexually abusing 11 children at St. Joseph School in Aintoura, Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) reported on Wednesday.

According to the radio station, Helou considered the case a misdemeanor and not a felony and convicted Pierre Sh. from 6 to 10 years in jail.