Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Saturday that any dispute with Speaker Nabih Berri would be short-lived, warning opponents against banking on any disputes emerging between them.

He said: “I enjoy excellent ties with Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is our partner in government.”

Syrian troops infiltrated on Saturday the border region of al-Qaa in the northern Bekaa and abducted two citizens, reported the National News Agency.

“One of the kidnapped men is from Abu Jabal family,” the NNA said.

The government is set to convene at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday where it is scheduled to discuss 68 articles, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

It said that it remains unclear if the petroleum file will be addressed.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is set to emphasize the importance of distinguishing between the Syrian people and the ruling regime during the annual “Memorial Mass for the Martyrs of the Lebanese Resistance”, reported reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Geagea is also expected to respond to the “errors committed by the Syrian regime and its allies in Lebanon.”

The recent shelling of the northern region of Akkar from the Syrian side of the border is linked to the arrest of former minister Michel Samaha and the demands to expel Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Sources concerned with the situation explained to the daily: “No security incident preceded the shelling, which means that it is linked to the tense situation caused by the calls to expel Ali and the arrest of Samaha.”

President Michel Suleiman described his talks with Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “very useful”, adding that they had agreed on the “majority of issues”, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He added: “Lebanon gratefully accepts all Iranian aid that does not violate international laws.”

At a time where the Parliamentary Committee for Administration and Justice is implementing the tobacco control law on September 3, “ABC, the leading retailer in Lebanon will, once again, be the pioneer in instigating the tobacco control legislation number 174 on the 1st of September,” ABC said in a press release.

“This decision reflects an awareness of health issues associated with smoking, and ABC considers this phase to be another important step towards making Lebanon a vibrant and healthy place to live,” ABC added.

The Progressive Socialist Party on Friday staged a demonstration demanding the expulsion of Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali and the summoning of the Syrian officers who are “involved” in the case of former minister Michel Samaha.

Members of the party’s youth organization gathered at 7:00 p.m. at the Samir Kassir Garden in downtown Beirut under the slogan “In rejection of the massacres being committed against the Syrian people.”

Security forces on Thursday evening arrested a Lieutenant Colonel and two civilians on charges of arms trade, state-run National News Agency reported on Friday, noting that the three men were arrested between Beirut and the Bekaa.

The Lieutenant Colonel hails from Western Bekaa, NNA said.

The United Nations Security Council, on the request of Lebanon, unanimously adopted on Thursday resolution 2064 (2012), extending without any changes the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one year, until 31 August 2013, announced UNIFIL in a statement on Friday.

UNIFIL Commander Major General Paolo Serra welcomed the Security Council’s decision and pledged renewed commitment by the peacekeepers in southern Lebanon to fully carry out their mandated tasks.