Two Tibetan men set themselves on fire in southwest China in the latest self-immolation protest against the Chinese government, state media and a rights group reported Saturday.

The two former monks, 18-year-old Thongan and 20-year-old Tenzin, set themselves on fire in Aba county in Sichuan province's Aba prefecture Friday, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The head of the General Labor Confederation Ghassan Ghosn described as “good” his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday.

He told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday: “We discussed figures on inflation and we set our demands.”

Russia will likely veto any United Nations Security Council action against Lebanon should it fail to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, reported the daily al-Liwaa on Saturday.

An informed source told the daily that Syrian and Iranian circles view Russia and China’s veto of a U.N. resolution against Syria’s deadly crackdown on protests earlier this week as a turning point in relations between them.

The White House on Friday called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to "step down now," warning he was taking his country down a "very dangerous path."

In a statement, spokesman Jay Carney condemned the killing of Kurdish opposition leader Meshaal Tamo as well as the beating of a prominent Syrian activist, saying it showed "again that the Assad regime's promises for dialogue and reform are hollow."

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji is expected to travel to the United States on Monday where he is scheduled to hold talks with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

A prominent military source told the daily that the visit is aimed at “requesting military support for the Lebanese army, as well as providing it with weapons and logistic equipment.”

The French Foreign Minister voiced on Friday its “deep concern” over the safety of Syrians in Lebanon in light of reports that the Syrian army had infiltrated Lebanese territory on Thursday where it killed a Syrian national living near the border.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stressed during a press conference that France is committed to an independent, sovereign, and secure Lebanon.

A number of Lebanese citizens living in the North demanded the Lebanese and Arab governments Friday to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus in a protest against the repression of demonstrations which had started in the Middle of last March.

According to National News Agency, a number of people from the North took part in a march in Tripoli “in solidarity with the Syrian people at an invitation from the Secular Gathering in Lebanon amidst strict security measures taken by the army and internal security forces.”

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday honored all those killed since U.S. warplanes launched a campaign to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan 10 years ago, and saluted those who have served in the U.S. military.

Obama said in a statement the United States was "responsibly ending" the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq "from a position of strength" and promised to provide veterans with healthcare and job opportunities.

A top Kurdish activist and nine other people were killed Friday as thousands rallied in support of a new opposition front, activists said, as Washington accused Syria of escalating attacks on dissidents.

The latest violence came as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said President Bashar al-Assad will have to leave power if he fails to implement reforms acceptable to the opposition, and Damascus again blamed "terrorists" for the unrest.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Friday that Lebanon is passing through an “unenviable” phase given the weak security situation and lack of justice and an incompetent state.

He said during the LF students’ graduation ceremony: “It’s natural that the security of a country be destabilized, but for it to be destabilized on a daily basis for the sake of one party is unacceptable.”