U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly urged Lebanon on Wednesday to criminalize trafficking in persons to ensure that suspects are prosecuted, the U.S. embassy announced.

During talks with Minister of Justice Shakib Qortbawi, Connelly “urged Lebanon to fully implement Law 164, which criminalizes trafficking in persons, to ensure those involved in trafficking are prosecuted.”

The Higher Defense Council discussed on Wednesday the Israeli violations and the kidnap-for-ransom phenomenon that has lately spread in the country, calling for ending “behaviors” that ignite strife.

Following a meeting it held at Baabda palace under President Michel Suleiman, the Council “discussed the country's general security situation, mainly the South after Israel intensified its overflights and violations, and some areas that witnessed trouble and security incidents.”

The Syndicate Coordination Committee urged on Wednesday President Michel Suleiman to call for an extraordinary cabinet session, vowing to stage a general strike if its demands weren't met by the end of the week.

“Our demonstration today is the beginning of the starved people uprising,” head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib told protesters.

Rana Koleilat, who was accused of playing a key role in the fraud case at al-Madina Bank, revealed on Wednesday that she will hand over to authorities the names of her accomplices.

Koleilat said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper that General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi will be handed over during the upcoming two weeks the names of the figures that received funds from her.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea denied on Wednesday that he supported a government proposed draft-law for the parliamentary elections, saying such a backing would hit hard all the negotiations made so far to reach consensus on another vote law.

“The return to the government's draft-law means hitting hard all efforts and negotiations aimed at agreeing on a new law,” Geagea told al-Akhbar newspaper. “It would bring us back to the starting point.”

Consultations are ongoing among the Lebanese foes to reach an agreement on a new electoral law that would govern the upcoming parliamentary elections as officials opposing the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law are insisting on their stance.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Wednesday, Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to hold talks later in the day with a delegation from Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front.

Speaker Nabih Berri considered on Wednesday that the security situation in the country is “intolerable,” lashing out at the security forces for failing to protect the Lebanese.

“If the security and military forces are incapable of safeguarding the Lebanese then why are we paying them their salaries? Every Lebanese then would protect himself,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has warned that Syria's war would pull Lebanon into its “vortex” and encouraged Lebanese officials to ensure that the parliamentary elections take place on a consensual basis.

"Even tentative steps to dialogue are struggling to take root. The destructive military spiral churns more forcefully each day and threatens to pull its neighbors, most notably and worrisomely Lebanon, into its vortex," Feltman told the U.N. Security Council about the fighting between the troops of Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels seeking to topple him.

The wheel of a truck blew up near Hazmieh highway on Tuesday night and the explosion was heard in the southern suburb of Beirut.

“The explosion took place at al-Sayyad bridge and it was heard all over the southern suburb of Beirut,” al-Manar television reported.

Hizbullah issued a statement on Tuesday denying reports that the party's leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has been transferred to Iran for treatment after falling ill.

"Nasrallah is in good health and he did not leave the country,” the statement said.