Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali stressed on Thursday that his embassy is committed to the Lebanese diplomatic norms, urging the end of alleged arms smuggling to Damascus for having negative impact on the bilateral ties between the two countries.

“Those who are calling for my expulsion have hidden motives that has nothing to do with constitution, the brother-ties between the two countries nor with the behavior of our mission,” Ali told reporters at Bustros Palace after holding talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

The army conducted raids in the eastern town of Hereml on Thursday, arresting two people wanted on a number of charges, it announced in a statement.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) identified the suspects as Imad Nassereddine and Mohammed al-Dennaoui.

Activists from the nationality campaign held on Thursday a sit-in near Baabda palace after urging Prime Minister Najib Miqati to end “discrimination” and reconsider recommendations not to allow Lebanese women to pass their nationality on to their children.

The protest coincided with a cabinet session held under President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace.

An inmate convicted of committing a “disgraceful crime” has hanged himself in Roumieh prison, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

Ghassan al-Sandaqli, who was in his 40s, committed suicide by hanging himself with a woolen scarf in the bathroom of Bloc B, NNA said.

Hizbullah and the Free Syrian Army engaged in tit-for-tat kidnappings triggered by the conflict in the neighboring country Syria as media reports said that armed clashes occurred between the two sides.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday, Hizbullah kidnapped two people suspected of belonging to the FSA.

General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi confirmed on Thursday that he was handed over the audio recordings that al-Mustaqbal MP Oqab Saqr revealed during a press conference to deny he was carrying out arms deals with the Free Syrian Army.

“We will analyze the content of these recordings and study if they include a penal offense,” Madi said in comments published in al-Joumhouria news paper.

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour has denied that the Lebanese government would urge Arab countries to take in some of the Syrian refugees that have escaped to Lebanon.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper published Thursday, Abou Faour said: “We will not ask the deportation of Syrian refugees during the donor conference in Kuwait.”

The rebel Free Syrian Army announced on Wednesday that it has resumed its mediation concerning the Lebanese abductees in Syria's Aazaz at the request of ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

“(The head of the FSA) Riad al-Asaad has worked very hard on this issue and al-Farouq battalion even surrendered its weapons to release the kidnapped Lebanese,” al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Oqab Saqr said in an interview on Future TV.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on Wednesday stressed that his party is not “maneuvering” by throwing its support behind the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering, warning that any Lebanese involvement in the Syrian conflict would bring the war to the streets of Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon.

“We're not maneuvering concerning the Orthodox Gathering law and we don't do anything we're not convinced of. We're insisting on it and there is a debate in parliament and if anyone proposes a better law that receives the broadest Lebanese approval, no one will reject that,” Gemayel said in an interview on al-Manar television.

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi said on Wednesday that his country is trying protect Lebanon from the consequences of Syria's ongoing internal conflict.

"Iran wants to share its initiative to end Syria's turmoil,” Roknabadi revealed after meeting with former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, adding that he also discussed with the al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Syrian President Bashar Assad's suggestion of ending the military conflicts and finding a peaceful solution out of the war.