The military institution announced on Wednesday arresting 33 people in the northern city of Tripoli, as troops continued to implement the security plan in the North.

"The army has arrested 33 people, including 14 Syrians,” the military institution said in an evening communique.

The army on Wednesday arrested fourteen Syrian men in the northeastern town of Arsal on charges of possessing military equipment and entering Lebanon illegally.

“Fourteen Syrians were arrested at army checkpoints in Arsal today on charges of possessing military equipment and entering Lebanese territory illegally with fake IDs carrying Lebanese names,” state-run National News Agency reported.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Wednesday that he will not be a presidential candidate against Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea, if the latter gained al-Mustaqbal Movement's support.

"If the March 14 coalition and al-Mustaqbal Movement announced their support for Geagea in the presidential elections, I will not nominate myself,” Aoun stated in an interview on Al-Mayadeen television.

Arab Democratic Party politburo chief Rifaat Eid took refuge in the southern suburbs of Beirut before leaving the country to Syria, media reports said on Wednesday.

"Rifaat Eid was transferred in a convoy from (the northern neighborhood) of Jabal Mohsen to the Sfeir region in southern Beirut,” LBCI television said.

The cabinet on Wednesday approved ten administrative appointments after they were postponed Monday over reasons that turned out to be “sectarian,” as it tasked a ministerial committee with studying the two oil exploration decrees.

According to al-Jadeed TV, the cabinet passed 10 appointments, including those of Prosecutor General Samir Hammoud and Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous, who had been serving in caretaker capacity.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is poised to officially declare his nomination for the presidency, after his press office announced that the party's Executive Committee will meet Friday to discuss his candidacy.

“In the presence of the LF parliamentary bloc and the party's central committees, the Executive Committee will convene on Friday at 12:00 PM in Maarab for consultations and discussions over the presidential bid of party leader Samir Geagea,” Geagea's office said.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi on Wednesday announced that his political camp is seeking “stronger” communication with Hizbullah in a bid to “protect the country,” noting that he might visit the Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhoods amid the security plan that is being implemented in Tripoli.

“The implementation of the security plan in Tripoli is very comforting,” Rifi said as he entered a cabinet session in the afternoon, stressing that “Tripoli is larger than Ashraf Rifi and all the figures.”

An Israeli military bulldozer crossed the electronic fence on the border with southern Lebanon on Wednesday, Lebanon's National News Agency said.

“An Israeli Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, protected by two Merkava tanks, crossed the electronic fence in the Qatmoun area that is adjacent to the agricultural fields in the border town of Rmeish,” NNA reported.

Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel on Wednesday called for sparing Lebanon the repercussions of the Syrian conflict, urging Arab states and the international community to “utilize their capabilities in order to halt the bloodshed and chaos.”

“The solution in Syria requires a miracle due to the complications, which also pose a threat to the neighboring countries,” said Gemayel after meeting U.N.-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at the United Nations' headquarters in Geneva.

Civil Defense volunteers held symbolic sit-ins in several Lebanese regions on Wednesday, to protest the parliament's postponing of the discussion on a proposal that improves their work conditions.

The postponement was decided after MPs discussed withdrawing the issue entirely from the parliament's agenda.