Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Monday noted that his government is “preserving stability,” stressing that through “unity and awareness” the Lebanese can prevent a spillover of the Syrian crisis into their country.

Briefing reporters after talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki, Miqati said: “We are not with or against the call for (the government’s) resignation, but we must rather stress that the government is preserving stability … We respect (Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel) Aoun’s viewpoint and we take his opinion into consideration.”

The Phalange Party said Monday that the success of the constituent assembly, which Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has recently called for, can only be guaranteed in the presence of a strong state that is exclusively in charge of the political, security and military decisions in the country.

Nasrallah called on Friday for the creation of an elected or appointed constituent assembly to build a strong state and end sectarian divisions. He urged President Michel Suleiman to weigh the creation of such an assembly during the National Dialogue that is set to be held at Baabda palace on June 11.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri accused on Monday Syria of seeking to destabilize Lebanon in order to divert attention from the developments in its country.

He said via Twitter: “What happened in Tripoli recently is proof the Syrian regime is unrelenting in its plot to set Lebanon on fire.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday that the March 14 forces will make a final attempt in coordination with President Michel Suleiman to secure the minimum elements of a serious and meaningful dialogue.

President Michel Suleiman applauded Monday the security measures taken in the northern city of Tripoli to control the situation following clashes that erupted between northern neighborhoods.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius condemned Monday the deadly clashes that erupted this weekend in the northern city of Tripoli, calling on Lebanese leaderships to "show the spirit of responsibility in this troubled situation.”

In a statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry, Fabius condemned the violence that killed 15 and left dozens injured, praising the “perfect role practiced by the Lebanese Army and security forces, which should be the exclusive owner of weapons in Lebanon.”

Education Minister Hassan Diab stressed on Monday that child molesters at schools in Lebanon would face severe consequences after a teacher at a well-known Catholic school sexually abused 11 children over the past several months.

During a joint press conference with Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, Diab said: “Those who carry out such acts will face several consequences and there will be a clear mechanism to resolve these cases.”

The pro-regime Al-Watan daily accused the Saudi authorities on Monday of "plotting" against Syria, and also of turning Lebanon into a springboard for attacking the country.

The newspaper accused Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal of "sending arms to fighters and mercenaries they are financing in north Lebanon," where weekend clashes between pro- and anti-Damascus factions left 14 dead.

A cautious calm prevailed in the northern city of Tripoli on Monday as most businesses shot down in mourning following the death of 14 people in the fighting between two rival neighborhoods.

The National News Agency said that banks, the commerce and industry chamber in the North, and the municipality of Tripoli abided by the request of civil society organizations to close in mourning of the victims.

Unknown assailants kidnapped a 21-year-old Lebanese in eastern Lebanon and asked for a 2-million-dollar ransom in return for his release, the National News Agency reported Monday.

NNA said the kidnappers seized Hussam al-Besharrawi around 2:00 am while he was driving his Range Rover in Ras Baalbek.