The al-Abboudieh and al-Arida crossings with Syria were closed late on Saturday amid conflicting reports about the authorities requesting these procedures.

OTV said al-Abboudieh and al-Arida crossings were closed following a decision taken by concerned Lebanese authorities.

The United Nations deplored the deadly blast that hit the Bekaa town of Hermel on Saturday evening, stressing that embracing the military institution is “the only way to face these random terrorist actions.”

"We strongly condemn the car bombing in Hermel which killed and wounded a number of people,” U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly said in a released statement.

Shelling from Syria on northern Lebanese towns renewed on Saturday evening, creating a tensed atmosphere among the residents of border regions.

"A tensed atmosphere prevailed in border regions after shells and gunshots coming from Syrian territories hit the outskirts of al-Noura, Hikr Janine and Qashlaq towns in (the northern border city of) Akkar,” the state-run National News Agency reported.

A stun grenade that detonated in Qasqas street in Beirut caused panic among civilians after media outlets had mistakenly reported that an explosion took place in the capital's southern suburbs.

The false media reports came just minutes after a deadly explosion hit the Bekaa town of Hermel.

Local political figures deplored on Saturday evening the second explosion to hit the Bekaa town of Hermel in a month, calling for national unity.

"Once again criminals have targeted a Lebanese region and attacked innocent civilians,” caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati said in a released statement.

A suicide attack targeted al-Aytam petrol station in the Bekaa town of Hermel on Saturday evening, killing at least three people and wounding 20 others.

The attack was claimed by the Syrian al-Qaida-linked group, al-Nusra Front in Lebanon.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius assured on Saturday that an international conference will take place in Paris in March to help Lebanon deal with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.

"France is determined to go forward with what was agreed on before through holding an international conference in early March to help Lebanon overcome its current political and economic difficulties,” Fabius said after meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Germany's Munich.

Caretaker Najib Miqati lamented on Saturday the current state of affairs in Lebanon given that it is suffering from the impact of the Syrian crisis.

Commenting on claims that he has become a target for assassination, he said: “I am performing my national duties and what pleases my conscience.”

Washington reiterated on Saturday the long-standing advice that U.S. citizens avoid all travel to Lebanon in light of recent security incidents in the country.

“U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in remaining in Lebanon and should carefully consider those risks. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued on October 9, 2013,” the Department of State said via twitter.

The latest efforts to form a new government have resulted in the proposal to distribute the four sovereign portfolios equally between the March 8 and 14 camps, reported An Nahar daily on Saturday.

It said that the March 8 camp will be granted the foreign and finance ministries, while the March 14 camp will be granted the defense and interior ministries.