Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora started on Monday giving his testimony at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, focusing on the ties between former Premier Rafik Hariri and the Syrian regime during the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as the influence the Syrian security apparatus wielded on Lebanon.

He said before the trial chamber at The Hague: “The Syrian regime sought to extend the term of then President Emile Lahoud, promising us that a 'new Lahoud' would emerge in the aftermath of the constitutional amendment.”

The kidnappers of a Lebanese resident of the northeastern border town of Arsal have asked for a $200,000 ransom, his father claimed on Monday.

The state-run National News Agency quoted the father of Zaher Rayed as saying that he received a phone call from the abductors asking for the ransom.

A quarrel erupted on Monday between members of the Internal Security Forces and two men in the Bekaa region of Riyaq after failing to stop at a police checkpoint.

The state-run National News Agency reported that the two men, identified by their initials Y.Z. and F.Z., failed to comply to orders to stop at the checkpoint on Deir Znoun – Riyaq road.

The al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front reassured that it will not assault Lebanon or its army, stressing that they are not targets by the group.

Sources close to the Nusra Front stressed in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper on Monday, that the group's direction is Syria and not Lebanon, pointing out that “Lebanon and its army are not included on the list of targets.”

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are reportedly leading a campaign for the adoption of a statement by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva that slams Hizbullah's presence in Syria.

As Safir daily on Monday said that the two Gulf countries are seeking to include a clause in the closing statement of the council's annual meeting to condemn Hizbullah's participation in the war in the neighboring country.

National Struggle Front MP Akram Shehayeb stressed on Monday that the bloc will not boycott the parliament, highlighting the importance of widening the centrists bloc instead of creating new ones.

“We have never boycotted the parliament,” Shehayeb said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has stressed that the government would manage the people's affairs under a decision made by its members to have consensus on regular decisions, saying they would discuss ways to incorporate the wage scale in the 2015 budget.

Salam, according to his visitors, said that the cabinet would continue in its work to manage the affairs of the Lebanese and meet their needs under the unusual circumstances.

Speaker Nabih Berri has expected positive developments in the presidential deadlock after a possible deal over Iran's nuclear program.

Al-Mustaqbal daily on Monday quoted Berri as saying that any agreement between the P5+1 group of powers and Tehran would lead to a

A meeting is expected to be held on Tuesday between Lebanese Forces official Melhem Riachi and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to continue the ongoing discussions over the “declaration of intent” between the two parties.

According to al-Mustaqbal newspaper published on Monday, the meeting will tackle the document of principles and set the second stage of the dialogue between the two Christian parties.

The seat of the Maronite church is keen to resolve the presidential deadlock through dialogue between the political arch-foes, deeming it as the only way to end the crisis.

Bkirki spokesman Walid Ghayad stressed in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Monday that “there is no other solution to the presidential stalemate but dialogue between the Lebanese parties, similar to those carried out at this stage.”