Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani appointed on Monday Sheikh Ahmed Nassar as the new mufti of the southern city of Sidon, while lashing out at his critics over his call for the elections at the Higher Islamic Council.

He said: “Those attacking the mufti, his authority, and decisions are seeking to impose dangerous changes on Dar al-Fatwa.”

Two army troops were lightly wounded in a clash with supporters of Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir in Sidon on Monday, according to media reports.

“A supporter of Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir burned pictures of Syrian President Bashar Assad and fired a number of gunshots on them, and when the Lebanese army intervened, a number of the young man's friends attacked army troops with knives, leaving two soldiers lightly wounded,” MTV said.

President Michel Suleiman voiced on Monday his support to an initiative proposed by the Phalange party, which focuses on introducing a constitutional amendment, which calls for neutrality and dissociate the country from the conflicts surrounding it.

“The initiative became a necessity during the current developments in the region,” Suleiman said after talks with a Phalage party delegation at the Baabda Palace.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat slammed on Monday the criticism directed against him by some members of the March 8 camp, saying that he will not get embroiled in “pointless debates” with them over the formation of a new government.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anba website: “The cabinet that grants eight ministers to the March 8, March 14, and centrist blocs offers the best representation and avoids schemes to obstruct political life in Lebanon.”

General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi handed over on Monday to the Central Bank's Special Investigation Commission a preliminary list of the names of several people to monitor and probe if they have links to the al-Madina Bank scandal.

According to the state-run National News Agency, the commission received the names of 135 people that might have connections to the fraud case at al-Madina and money laundering.

Two foreign laborers died and several others were injured on Monday in an explosion at a quarry north of Beirut, media reports said.

The blast went off while the workers of the stone-crushing plant in Antelias were welding a diesel tank, they said.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam reiterated on Monday his keenness to achieve national interests in his mission to form a new government.

He said after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri: “I hope that the new cabinet pleases all political powers.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and the European Union mission in Lebanon denied reports that the EU could withdraw its troops affiliated in United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst didn't relay a warning backed by U.S. that it would withdraw its troops over Lebanon's slackness in preventing abduction of UNIFIL members,” according to a statement issued by the EU mission in Lebanon and received by the Naharnet.

Several parliamentary blocs announced on Monday that they will boycott the parliamentary session on May 15 as the parliament's general-secretariat placed only the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal on the agenda of legislative rounds set to begin this week.

"Al Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front, caretaker premier Miqati and independent MPs will boycott the parliamentary session dedicated to discuss the Orthodox draft on May 15," Future television reported.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stressed on Monday that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat is keen on maintaining contacts aimed at forming a new government.

He said after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri: “Jumblat is keen on maintaining consultations with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, President Michel Suleiman, and all sides to reach an agreement over a new government, which will help avert numerous repercussions.”