President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday that threats to target foreign countries' interests in Lebanon will have negative impact on the country after the families of abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria warned of targeting Turkish interests if the men weren't released soon.

The president, during the final cabinet session of 2012 held at the Baabda Palace, pointed out that he is directly following up the case along with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and the competent ministerial committee.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday President Michel Suleiman's recent remarks on the national dialogue and the March 14 camp's boycott of government-related activity, saying that the alliance had long demanded “serious and constructive” dialogue that “does not cancel agreements reached during previous sessions.”

He announced in an open letter to the president: “We are willing to return to parliament to discuss a fair electoral parliamentary electoral law once the speaker issues a call for a session aimed solely for this purpose.”

The Higher Islamic Shiite Council urged on Thursday the families of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria to have patience, rejecting any “negative” endeavor that they might adopt to press forward the release of the men.

A meeting held between the Council's Vice President Abdul Amir Qabalan and Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who has been tasked by the authority to follow up the case, called on the families not to further complicate the case.

The Lebanese Army command said Thursday that troops arrested several suspects involved in a gunfight between two clans in the eastern city of Baalbek.

“A dispute between residents of the area of al-Sharawina over family affairs turned into a gunfight with light weapons” on Wednesday night, an army communique said.

Cabinet approved on Thursday the regulations at the petroleum authority, while introducing amendments to the salaries of its employees.

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said at the end of the last session of 2012 that the salaries will be lowered from L.L.36 million to L.L.25 million.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani canceled on Thursday his decision to call for the election of members of the Higher Islamic Council on Dec. 30.

Qabbani's new move came to allow Dar al-Fatwa, which is Lebanon’s top Sunni religious authority, to issue a list of eligible voters for the 32-member Council.

Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek al-Shaar disclosed his intentions Thursday to return to Lebanon, pointing out that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri holds the same will, the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah daily reported.

“The necessary arrangements for my personal safety are underway to pave for my return to Lebanon,” al-Shaar told the daily after a meeting with Hariri at his residence in Paris on Tuesday.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar, who was wounded in a bombing and was brought to Beirut for treatment a week ago, flew home after Lebanese authorities received information that international arrest warrants could be issued against him, a top security official said.

Al-Shaar left to Damascus on a private jet, officials at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport said Tuesday.

Iran and Russia are holding consultations to defuse tension in Lebanon over the crisis in the neighboring country Syria.

A diplomatic source told al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday that the two countries want to end the disputes in Lebanon between the political foes to maintain stability in it.

Opposition lawmaker Robert Ghanem said Thursday he will meet with Speaker Nabih Berri next week to discuss with him a proposal to head meetings of a parliamentary subcommittee on an electoral draft-law, which are seen as a test of intentions.

Ghanem told An Nahar daily he hasn't yet been officially notified to head the meetings over the presence of Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, who is the subcommittee's chairman, in Paris.