Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora contacted on Thursday a number of Shiite religious and political figures as part of efforts to put an end to Hizbullah's “dangerous” fighting in Syria.

He stressed the need to end the party's involvement “through all possible means.”

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly praised on Thursday the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces in working with political leaders to maintain peace and stability at this difficult time.

She expressed after holding talks with caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel the U.S. government’s concern over the current outbreak of violence in Tripoli, conveying her regrets over the deaths in Tripoli.

Abu Faruq, a kiosk owner in an upscale Beirut district, does not hide his opinion about the influx of Syrian refugees: "Lebanon is occupied by foreigners," he grumbled. "They're ruining us."

As the conflict in neighboring Syria stretches into a third year, a wave of refugees has flooded Lebanon, stretching its economy and testing its resources as well the nerves of its citizens.

Seventy-five fighters from Hizbullah have been killed in Syria since late last year, a source close to the group said on Thursday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gave a higher death toll, saying 104 Hizbullah members had been killed in Syria since last autumn, but a Hizbullah spokesman denied the figures.

Acting Internal Security Forces chief Brigadier General Roger Salem stressed on Thursday that the security forces will bolster their presence in the northern city of Tripoli in order to contain the clashes and tensions in the area.

He said: “The gunmen are not being granted political cover and they are acting independently.”

At least nine people were killed on Thursday in ongoing clashes between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, as different caliber mortars in addition to flare bombs were introduced to the battle for the first time.

The fighting intensified as the night fell on the city after intermittent clashes throughout the day, amid several futile attempts to reach a ceasefire.

Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano expressed support on Thursday to Lebanon, stressing that his country is keen to fortify its role through its contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“Italy will continue to play a positive role to support Lebanon and help it resolve the conditions of the refugees,” Lebanon's Ambassador to Italy Charbel Estephan quoted Napolitano as saying during a ceremony to present his credentials.

Rival parties are holding consultations on the duration of the extension of parliament's mandate at a time when security incidents throughout the country are threatening to spiral out of control and amid conditions set by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Zahle MP Nicolas Fattoush, who is also a caretaker minister, proposed on Wednesday a draft-law to extend the legislature's term for two years until June 20, 2015.

A dinner banquet for current and former premiers will be held on Friday night at the residence of Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri, al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper published on Thursday, the dinner banquet is the first-of-its-kind to be hosted by the ambassador.

Top leaders from the March 14 alliance have held a meeting to discuss the cabinet formation efforts and the parliamentary elections crisis, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said that the meeting, which was held on Tuesday and attended by al-Mustaqbal, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange party and March 14 independent figures, was chaired by al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora.