Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi continued on Thursday his visit to the Vatican by holding talks with Pope Francis I, reported the National News Agency.

The pope expressed his “keen interest on the situation in the Middle East, especially Lebanon.”

Islamist cleric Omar Mahmoud Othman, who is also known as Abu Qatada, strongly criticized Hizbullah on Thursday, calling on the cabinet to “pressure” the party to stop its involvement in the Syrian war.

Abu Qatada, who is being tried in Jordan on terrorism charges, also expressed his support to suicide bombings carried out by the al-Qaida linked Al-Nusra Front in Lebanon and Abdullah Azzam Brigades on Lebanese territories.

Lebanese Olympic skier Jacky Chamoun depicted in revealing photographs and a video that circulated on the Internet said her country's sports officials are "on my side."

Three years ago, Jacky Chamoun posed for a calendar photo shoot. Behind-the-scenes footage recently was posted online, and Lebanon's sports and youth minister reportedly ordered an investigation.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Thursday the “extraordinary procedures” that led to the discovery of terrorist networks that were planning to carry out attacks in Lebanon.

He said in a statement: “The procedures demonstrate once more that there can be no substitute to the state and its security agencies that are operating under difficult and complicated circumstances.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed on Thursday optimism that a new government may be formed soon.

He said: “Positive signs indicate that a new cabinet may be formed soon.”

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday the importance of the ongoing security efforts to unveil the terrorist networks on Lebanese territories, praising the endeavors exerted by the army intelligence in this regard.

He expressed hope that the rival politicians would realize the delicacy of the stage that Lebanon is passing through and that they would cooperate to form a new cabinet.

A suspect belonging to the Qaida-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades was charged on Thursday as the military examining magistrate issued an arrest warrant against another suspected terrorist.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged Nawwaf Hussein for his ties with Sheikh Omar al-Atrash and for belonging to an armed terrorist organization.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Rashid Qabbani lauded on Thursday the Lebanese army in thwarting attempts to destabilize the country by those who aim at inciting sedition and kill innocent people.

“The culprits should be interrogated and referred to the competent judiciary in order for people to feel safe in a stable and secure country,” Qabbani said in a statement issued by his press office.

The General Directorate of State Security seized on Thursday a mobile factory used in manufacturing counterfeit medicine.

A state security patrol seized the mobile factory in the Bekaa town of Bar Elias.

Fourteen cars have entered the northeastern town of Arsal from Syria carrying suspects from Lebanese and Gulf nationalities in addition to arms and ammunition, As Safir daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said that the 14 four-wheelers, which also transported huge sums of money, entered Arsal on February 8.