Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stated on Monday that Lebanon chose to distance itself from the Arab League decision on Syria that was taken on Sunday.

He said: “Dialogue between the Syrian opposition and leadership will end the country’s crisis.”

Beirut Examining Magistrate Ghassan Owaidat issued on Monday two arrest warrants against Michel and Claude Saadeh, the owners of the Ashrafiyeh building that collapsed on January 15 and left 27 dead.

Owaidat first questioned Michel at around 11:00 am in the presence of his lawyer Rabih Abdul Sater, the National News Agency reported.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Monday the importance of setting up an independent fund for petroleum and gas excavation.

He said at an event sponsored by the Association of Banks in Lebanon: “This fund will be strictly aimed at lowering Lebanon’s public debt.”

President Michel Suleiman sent a clear message to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday about Lebanon’s keenness on the mutual respect in their bilateral relations.

A statement issued by the presidential palace, said Suleiman discussed with Iranian ambassador Ghazanfar Roknabadi the latest controversial remarks of the commander of Iran's Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

A delegation of 29 Lebanese lawyers from the Beirut and Tripoli Bar associations began a working visit in The Hague on Monday, announced the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s press office in a statement.

In addition to the STL, the group will visit the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court, it added.

The Foreign Ministry prepared a report concerning the numbers of Lebanese expatriates expected to vote during the 2013 parliamentary elections, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

The foreign Ministry based its information on reports prepared by more than 70 Lebanese missions around the world on the number of expatriates expected to vote.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare is expected to hold a series of talks with Lebanese officials during a two-day farewell visit to Beirut on Thursday.

An Nahar daily said Monday that Bellemare will discuss with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel the results of the investigations carried out by the Lebanese security agencies on issues linked to the court’s work.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to come up with a clear plan to resolve the electricity crisis, saying parliament has done its part in endorsing a draft law.

Several newspapers on Monday quoted Berri as telling his visitors that he rejected claims by Bassil about deterioration in the electricity situation in the future.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas reiterated on Monday that he would not resign from the cabinet, but stressed that he refused to approve the transportation and education allowances decree.

“If some members (of the cabinet) don’t like my stance, then all they could do is to try to guarantee 20 ministers to approve my resignation,” he told As Safir newspaper.

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil has warned the government that it should assume its responsibilities in resolving the electricity crisis gripping Lebanon or else it would be doomed.

“There are obstacles from several sides,” Bassil told As Safir daily published Monday, reiterating claims that certain parties were hindering the implementation of power projects.