Two soldiers were killed in the neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh in Tripoli on Monday as the army sought to implement a security plan to contain the clashes in the northern city, a statement released by the Army Command announced.

"Ali Shhade and Omar al-Hajj Omar were killed and 6 others were wounded after they came under gunfire from armed groups in Tripoli,” the statement said, explaining that this took place when the army was implementing security measures to restore stability in northern areas witnessing conflicts.

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has rejected to be held responsible for a parliamentary vacuum, saying he would exert all efforts to hold the elections on time if no agreement was reached on a new vote law.

In remarks to As Safir daily published Monday, Charbel said: “I won't be at any moment responsible for the vacuum in the legislative branch.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed that his party is ready to run in the 2013 parliamentary elections, assuring that he rejects any boycott, the As Safir daily quoted him on Monday.

“The Free Patriotic Movement is ready to wage the elections and is not afraid of a confrontation,” the Change and Reform bloc chief said, adding “We reject to boycott the elections.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said on Monday that he is considering the alternatives before announcing the formation of his cabinet as he can't take a final decision ahead of the results reached by the parliamentary subcommittee.

“I am giving the parliamentary blocs and the electoral subcommittee the chance to reach an agreement over the electoral law before I take any decisive stance,” Salam said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed regret on Monday on the sharp rift between Lebanese foes over the new electoral law, pointing out that there are only two options either political vacuum or extending the mandate of the parliament.

“Officials didn't act responsibly,” Miqati said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

The parliamentary electoral subcommittee failed on Monday to reach an agreement over a new electoral law as Speaker Nabih Berri did not set a date for a new session, reported LBCI television.

It said that the speaker will hold contacts with various officials over the next two days before setting the date for a new meeting.

March 8-backed candidate Antoine al-Bustani was elected as the head of the Order of Physicians in Beirut as March 8-backed candidate Elie Habib was elected as head of Tripoli's Order, the National News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, March 14 and March 8 won an equal number of seats on the council of the Order of Physicians in Beirut.

At least one person was killed and 22 others were wounded on Sunday in armed clashes between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, state-run National News Agency reported.

MTV said "the shooting started in Bab al-Tabbaneh over reports that 12 of Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi's supporters were killed while fighting alongside the Syrian opposition in Qusayr."

President Michel Suleiman on Sunday condemned the rocket attack from Syrian territory on the Bekaa area of Hermel and denounced the Israeli mock raids over southern Lebanon.

In a press release, Suleiman stressed the need for “all warring parties in Syria to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and avoid military acts against Lebanese border areas that are targeting peaceful citizens.”

Several rockets landed in and around Lebanon’s northeastern town of Hermel from Syria as Syrian troops backed by Hizbullah fighters launched an assault on the rebel-held central town of Qusayr.

The state-run National News Agency said around eight Grad rockets hit different areas of Hermel.