U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly lauded the Lebanese Energy Ministry for making commitments to implement “strong” and “transparent” regulations in the energy sector, the U.S. embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.

Connelly’s remarks came during a meeting with Energy Minister Jebran Bassil at his ministry’s office in Karantine.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali questioned on Tuesday criticism by some Lebanese officials that have accused his embassy of being behind the disappearance of Syrian opposition members in Lebanon.

He said after holding talks with former Prime Minister Salim Hoss: “I don’t want to dwell on the details of this dispute, but I will renew my call for some sides to reconsider their positions based on the Lebanese constitution and cooperation agreements between Lebanon and Syria.”

The daughter of a Syrian opposition member who was allegedly kidnapped in the eastern Lebanese region of Aley pleaded with Syria’s allies in Lebanon to mediate for the release of her father.

Shebli al-Aysami, 86, a co-founder of Syria's ruling Baath party, who fled his native country in 1966 over political differences, was last seen in May in Aley.

A dispute rose between private education institutions and the teachers syndicate in Lebanon over the strike that is intended to be held on Wednesday, An Nahar newspaper reported.

The schools associations confirmed that the strike will be held under the slogan: “Revising the Government Decision on Wages Boost.”

The cabinet launches on Tuesday what would most probably be protracted discussions on the draft state budget which includes the controversial funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The first government session on the 2012 budget will be held at Baabda palace on Tuesday afternoon. Ministerial sources told An Nahar daily that discussions will start with an overview of the budget that is drafted by Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi.

The Parliament held on Tuesday a session to select the members of committees and Parliament’s bureau, An Nahar newspaper reported.

The parliamentary session ended by re-electing the parliament bureau members and making slight changes in the membership of the parliament committees.

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi’s investigation report on the kidnapping of Syrian opposition members reveals that the head of the Syrian embassy guard unit, First Lt. Salah Hajj, was the ringleader of the group that abducted the Jassem brothers.

An Nahar daily published on Tuesday the full report, which is based on witness testimony and telecommunications data.

Beirut airport police arrested a 25-year-old drug smuggler after seizing 9 kilograms of narcotic pills from his bag, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

NNA said that the police searched his bag when suspicion fell on the man. They found the drugs packed in nylon bags in a false bottom.

Hundreds of residents from Jabal Mohsen, home to Tripoli's Alawites, gathered in support for the Syrian regime on Monday.

" Around 1500 people gathered Friday night in Tripoli's Jabal Mohsen to welcome the "Syrian Youth in support for the Syrian army" delegation of which is visiting Lebanon as a part of a campaign to mobilize solidarity with the Syrian army and regime." Agence france Presse reported.

Progressive Socialist Party Leader MP Walid Jumblat asked if it was true that Arab states made proposals to the Energy Ministry for financing the electricity plan but were rejected.

In his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine, Jumblat hoped that "political differences will be forgotten when development projects which are needed for the economic cycle are being presented."