The families of the nine Aazaz abductees on Monday blocked the road outside the Turkish Cultural Center in downtown Beirut to press for the release of their relatives.

Adham Zgheib, son of abducted pilgrim Ali Zgheib, told LBCI television: "Security forces were not honest with us and they let the employees of the Turkish Cultural Center continue their work."

Several fuel tankers crossed the Masnaa border crossing with Syria on Monday a day after residents blocked their way to prevent them from entering the neighboring country.

According to state-run National News Agency, residents blocked briefly Majdal Anjar junction in the Bekaa Valley with burning tires to protest the crossing of the tankers.

French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli called on the rival parties on Monday to reach consensus among each other as it is in the country's best interest, rejecting any interference claims in Lebanon's affairs.

“The government should be formed swiftly... It's a friendship message and not meddling (in Lebanon's affairs) as Lebanon should be united to confront all threats,” Paoli said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.

A Lebanese security official denied on Monday that a drone downed by the Israeli air force off the northern coast of Israel had been sent from Lebanon.

The official, who was not identified, told An Nahar newspaper that Israel rushed to the conclusion that Hizbullah was behind the unmanned aircraft (UAV) that the Israeli military said was intercepted five nautical miles off the coast of Haifa last Thursday.

The constitutional council is set to meet on Monday to appoint a rapporteur to draft a report on a challenge submitted by MP Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front bloc over the suspension of the electoral deadlines set by the 1960 law.

The head of the 10-member council, Dr. Issam Suleiman, told An Nahar newspaper that the rapporteur has 10 days to submit his report.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that he will not call for a parliamentary session ahead of May 15 to discuss the electoral law, pointing out that lawmakers will have to act responsibly.

“I advise different groups not to waste their time... I will not call for a session to end the dispute over the electoral law ahead of the one set on May 15,” Berri told several newspapers published Monday.

A delegation from the Progressive Socialist Party informed Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday that a vote law proposal he had made does not guarantee the best representation for all the Lebanese.

“We can't guarantee through Berri's proposal the best representation for all the Lebanese,” said caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour who visited the speaker in Ain el-Tineh at the head of the PSP delegation.

Head of Hizbullah's Executive Council Sheikh Hashem Safieddine on Sunday announced that his party's military involvement in the Syrian conflict is a “strength for the resistance,” stressing that it is not of a sectarian nature.

“We believe that our stance in Syria is a strength for the resistance and that the confrontation taking place in Syria is targeted against the resistance and its weapons,” Safieddine said during a memorial service commemorating one week since the death of Hizbullah member Mohammed Jawad al-Zein, who was killed in Syria.

Three people were killed and at least 10 others were hurt in clashes over the removal of illegal constructions in the Tripoli area of al-Beddawi on Sunday, state-run National News Agency reported.

“A protest over the removal of illegal construction in the Wadi al-Nahleh area in al-Beddawi erupted into a major clash between residents and security and military forces, which involved gunfire,” NNA said.

President Michel Suleiman on Sunday called on “everyone” to abide by the Baabda Declaration in order to keep Lebanon stable amid the regional turmoil.

“Lebanon -- which is abiding by the Baabda Declaration … and dissociating itself from the conflicts of others, especially in Syria – urges everyone to abide by the content of this declaration to keep the country stable and safe from the negative repercussions of the events taking place in the region,” the president said during a meeting with Arab youth and sports ministers in Baabda.