Tens of thousands of Lebanese Shiites are marching in a Hizbullah stronghold in southern Beirut to mark one of their sect's most important religious occasions, the Ashura.

Thursday's massive ceremony is being held amid tight security, including a ban on vehicles in the area, following huge bombings last summer that killed and wounded dozens of people.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati's decision to task Higher Defense Council chief General Mohammed Kheir to temporarily head the Higher Relief Council is “illegal,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Kheir is an officer at the Lebanese army and tasking him with any duties needs the approval of the Army Commander, General Jean Qahwaji, and at times the Defense Minister.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri slammed Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday, saying the March 14 alliance will not give his party any legitimacy to its “reckless” policies and will not become a partner with the party in a government that covers its role in Syria.

“We won't give Hizbullah any form of national legitimacy to reckless policies” that shove Lebanon in the region's turmoil, Hariri said in a statement in response to a speech made by Nasrallah earlier.

A meeting will be held on Friday between President Michel Suleiman and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki on the sidelines of issuing the memorial book on the official visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday the behind-closed doors meeting will address Suleiman's recent visit to Saudi Arabia and the new cabinet formation standstill.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Wednesday that the conflict in Syria is having a serious impact on neighboring Lebanon, citing increased cross-border violence and broader threats to stability and security.

Ban said the spillover of the 2 1/2-year Syrian conflict has caused more than 800,000 Syrians to flee to Lebanon, straining the country's finances and increasing social pressures.

Hizbullah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah assured on Wednesday that the resistance will emerge stronger in case a deal was struck between Iran and international powers currently negotiating over Tehran's nuclear program.

Nasrallah surprised his supporters on Wednesday evening when he made a rare public appearance in the Beirut neighborhood of Rweiss, on the tenth night of Ashura.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr rebutted on Wednesday pleas submitted by Arab Democratic Party leader's attorney, citing their “illegality” as a reason.

"Saqr examined a report of defenses submitted by Ali Eid and (detained suspect) Ahmed Ali's lawyer Huyam Eid and rebutted them for failing to conform to legal conditions,” the state-run National News Agency said.

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his relief on Wednesday over the conclusions reached at the telecommunications committee's meeting on the Israeli spying report, praising also parliamentary “consensus” to confront Israel's activities.

Berri urged during his weekly Wednesday talks with parliamentary blocs “continuing to exert necessary efforts” in this matter.

The Financial General Prosecutor charged on Wednesday Higher Relief Council Chief Ibrahim Bashir and his wife with embezzlement of public funds and money laundering.

Judge Ali Ibrahim referred both suspects to Beirut's First Investigative Judge Ghassan Oueidat, demanding their detention.

President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday called on the country's regulatory and disciplinary bodies to carry out their role regarding violations taking place in state institutions and municipalities.

Suleiman headed a meeting for the disciplinary committee for municipalities, which was attended by Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, the director-general of the presidency, Dr. Antoine Shuqair, and head of the Higher Disciplinary Committee Judge Marwan Abboud.