Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri voiced astonishment on Friday at the latest statements made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq who said that the kingdom had several roles in Lebanon's internal files, the state-run National News Agency said.

“I am surprised at the stances made by the Interior Minster that involved the kingdom in several internal files,” said Asiri in a statement.

Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stated on Friday, that he made an initiative that guarantees the representation of the Christians and Alawites in the municipal elections in Tripoli but the other party did not respond to it.

“I explained to Patriarch Bshara al-Rahi the initiative that I made to represent the Christians and Alawites in the municipal elections in Tripoli, but the other party did not reply,” said Rifi from Bkirki after a meeting with Rahi.

The army intelligence arrested two people and confiscated arms in the northern Zgharta town of Ayal, the state-run National News Agency said on Friday.

NNA said that the army carried out a raid on a farm in the town of Ayal.

Britain slammed on Friday the statements made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq that it encouraged the nomination of Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post of president.

"We do not support or oppose any particular candidate for the presidency. The election of a president is the decision, and the responsibility, of the Lebanese,” said a statement issued by the British embassy in Beirut.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Thursday defended al-Mustaqbal movement's policies in the past few years, as he criticized the recent political rhetoric of resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi.

Two hand grenades were found Thursday evening outside the Mar Jerjes Church in the Jezzine district town of Roum, state-run National News Agency reported.

The thorny issue of the Janna dam consumed most of the time of the cabinet session on Thursday as rival ministers traded jabs over the project.

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel announced Thursday that he refuses a return to the 1960 electoral law under which the 2009 parliamentary polls were held, while stressing that Kataeb did not seek to “score points against others” in the municipal elections that were held last month.

Somewhere, out there, there is still someone who believes that Lebanon deserves a better shot or at least some exposure in the world of sports -- specifically football.

Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stated on Thursday that he is no longer in the al-Mustaqbal movement but that he will continue to defend the political path of late PM Rafik Hariri.

“I am not in the al-Mustaqbal movement, but I am a fierce fighter in defense of the political Harirism,” said Rifi in reference to the political path of late PM Rafik Hariri.