The Lebanese Army on Thursday intercepted a car loaded with arms and ammunition, which was trying to enter the Bekaa border town of Arsal.

OTV said two Lebanese men were inside the car, identifying them as “Ahmed al-Fahel from al-Qubayyat and Hasan Mohammed from Akroum” in Akkar.

Three Syrian nationals, who are allegedly affiliated in al-Nusra Front, have been arrested in the north of the Bekaa.

According to the state-run National News Agency, the three men entered Lebanon illegally to the Bekaa border town of Arsal via Qalamoun.

A new proposal has been made to grant the foreign ministry portfolio to the Change and Reform bloc in the all-embracing government although caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said his party hasn't been officially informed about it.

Media reports said Thursday that Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who has been mediating the negotiation process, made the proposal to make the foreign ministry, which is a so-called sovereign portfolio, as part of the share of MP Michel Aoun's bloc.

Israel accused Hizbullah of establishing bases in residential areas and using civilians as “human shields,” vowing to destroy them in any conflict in the future.

Israeli air force chief Major-General Amir Eshel issued his threats in an attempt to prepare the world for high civilian casualties in case a new confrontation with Hizbullah erupted.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has accused the March 8 alliance of obstructing the formation of the new cabinet to stand by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

In an interview with An Nahar daily published on Thursday, Geagea said: The March 8 team is obstructing the all-embracing government whether intentionally or not or based on Hizbullah's willingness to stand by Aoun.”

The March 14 General Secretariat called on Wednesday for a national reconciliation that does not overlook the rulings of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, demanding also respecting the Baabda Declaration.

"We call on the Lebanese factions to reconcile on clear grounds based on the constitution and on applicable laws,” the secretariat said in a released statement after its weekly meeting, noting that a real state should confiscate illegal weapons and have a monopoly in using arms.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged on Wednesday 13 people with belonging to the armed terrorist group, the al-Qaida-affiliated Abdullah Azzam Brigades, reported the National News Agency.

Detainee Jamal Daftardar is among those who have been charged.

Julien Georges Antoun, 27, was kidnapped in the Oyoun al-Siman region on Tuesday, reported the National News Agency on Wednesday.

The kidnappers contacted his mother by telephone to demand a ransom on three million dollars for his release.

The Trial Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Wednesday overruled objections by the Defense lawyers, who had asked the court not to allow that nine witnesses give their testimonies via videoconference, as the Prosecution exhibited a number of pictures of former premier Rafik Hariri without revealing the significance of the displayed material.

After discussing administrative and logistical issues linked to the February 14, 2005 assassination of ex-PM Hariri, the Prosecution exhibited pictures obtained from the witness Ahmed Ismail, head of the photography department at the al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam on Wednesday met with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace to discuss "the latest developments in the cabinet formation process," state-run National News Agency reported.

As he entered the meeting, Salam told reporters that he would not make a statement after the talks.