The army arrested on Wednesday a number of Syrians on suspicion of their links to terrorist groups.

It said in a communique that nine Syrians were detained in al-Hinnieh in the southern city of Tyre and in al-Labweh-Arsal region in the Bekaa.

An Israeli infantry unit combed Wednesday the heights of Jabal Sadana and removed a Lebanese flag hoisted the day before on a barbed wire fence, which was newly erected by Israel.

The state-run National News Agency reported that the flag, which was lifted by Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Qassem Hashem and Shebaa town residents, was removed by an Israeli army unit accompanied by an armored vehicle.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said that the dialogue between his party and the Free Patriotic Movement should have started a long time ago.

“But it's better late than never,” Geagea said in an interview to be published on Thursday, according to his press office.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed concern Wednesday over Lebanon's deviation from its role, warning of linking it to the armed and sectarian clashes in the region.

“Due to violations of the Constitutional and the National Pact, we are witnessing Lebanon's deviation, which reached the maximum by obstructing the presidential elections and by linking the armed and sectarian clashes in the region with the polls,” al-Rahi said at the opening of the annual retreat of the Synod of Maronite Bishops.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat described Wednesday some Christian leaders of being “delusional” to think that they will become the new president, stressing he will not withdraw the candidacy of his nominee MP Henri Helou.

“The main dispute is over the illusion of some Christian leaders that they will become the next head of state,” Jumblat said in the second part of an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper published in segments.

A Lebanese man has been arrested in the airport of the Nigerian city of Lagos for trying to smuggle drugs to Lebanon in his boxer shorts, the head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Wednesday.

Yves Awad, 23, was apprehended by officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with about 260 grams of cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is aware that the cabinet can convene despite the absence of Free Patriotic Movement ministers but is procrastinating on calling for a session to avoid a clash, sources close to the PM said.

The sources told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday that Salam does not want to hit the political balance in the government.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc lashed out on Tuesday at Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, accusing them of implementing “suicidal, irresponsible policies.”

“The policy adopted by Hizbullah and its allies -- through their insistence on imposing a sole (presidential) candidate claiming exclusive representation of an entire sect – is a suicidal, irresponsible policy that might lead to Lebanon's destruction,” the bloc warned in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The Change and Reform bloc rejected on Tuesday attempts to hold a cabinet session that will not address the security appointments.

Former Minister Salim Jreissati said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “We will not allow the government to convene and violate the constitution.”

Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Qassem Hashem and Shebaa town residents hoisted on Tuesday the Lebanese flag on a barbed wire fence that was newly erected by Israel, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The lawmaker and several of the town's residents erected the flag near Jabal Sadana, it said.