The Syndicate Coordination Committee called for a general strike on Wednesday after the joint parliamentary committees failed again to resolve the dispute on the Value Added Tax.

“Tomorrow, April 9, we will respond to joint parliamentary committees' negligence towards employees. Tomorrow is a day of revolution to free the state from squandering and from financial deals,” SCC head Hanna Gharib said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea remarked on Tuesday that he is currently the LF's candidate in the presidential elections, hoping that he will soon become the March 14 camp's candidate.

He said: “Should I emerge as a victor in the elections, I will act as a president for the all the Lebanese people, but one who adopts the March 14 forces' approach.”

Rival demonstrations were staged on Tuesday over the controversial new rent law that was recently adopted by parliament.

Members of the Follow-Up Committee of the National Conference of Tenants blocked the main street of Beirut's Hamra district, demanding that an amended version of the law be put in place.

The Syrian opposition slammed on Tuesday the latest positions of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the Syrian conflict, saying that they are a reflection of the party's waning influence on the ground.

Syrian National Coalition member Mohammed Yehya Maktabi said: “Nasrallah's remarks are a sign of the great confusion Hizbullah is experiencing as a result of the great number of losses among its ranks.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday questioned the path the discussion over funding the new wage scale is taking, denouncing holding state employees responsible for “any possible financial or economic collapse” that could happen after approving the debated draft law.

"It is weird and absurd how discussion is going in circles regarding the best means to fund the new wage scale, which is a rightful demand for public employees, without touching upon the main problem in depth,” Jumblat said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website.

German authorities banned a group Tuesday accused of raising millions for Hizbullah and staged raids across the country against its members.

The interior ministry said it had outlawed the "Waisenkinderprojekt Libanon" (Orphan Children Project Lebanon) with immediate effect.

A meeting held on Monday at the Interior Ministry led to consensus over the full-employment of Civil Defense volunteers after several protests were held in different areas across the country.

Al-Mustaqbal MP Hadi Hobeish said in remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that Wednesday's parliamentary session will include on its agenda a draft-law regarding the full-employment of the volunteers.

Expired food, alcohol and cleaning products were on Tuesday burned at a dump in the northern district of Koura, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said the food included meat and poultry.

The implementation of a security plan by the Lebanese army in the northern city of Tripoli faced on Tuesday attacks and protests by angry men.

The state-run National News Agency said several grenades were tossed in the area of al-Baraniyeh as residents shortly blocked the road of al-Dabagha and wheat market with burning tires.

Palestinian Armed Struggle chief Mahmoud Issa, who goes by the nom de guerre of al-Lino, denied that sacked Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan was involved in the clashes that erupted at the Palestinian refugee camp of Mieh Mieh in the southern city of Sidon.

Al-Lino said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that Dahlan's role at the camp is merely humanitarian.