Speaker Nabih Berri said on Friday that the recent parliamentary boycott by the Christian MPs is a part of a scheme to target it and the constitution.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged on Friday the residents of Akkar to exercise restraint following their blocking of roads in protest against the release of three officers and eight soldiers linked to the death of Sheikhs Ahmed Abdul Wahed and Mohammed Merheb.

He revealed in a statement that he had contacted Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi on Thursday, requesting that he study the possibility of referring the case to the judicial council ahead of placing the issue at the cabinet agenda.

The March 14 forces on Thursday called on the government to “resign immediately” and called for referring the assassination attempts against Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and MP Boutros Harb to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

In a statement issued after an emergency meeting at Harb’s residence in the wake of a failed attempt on his life, the March 14 forces also called on the government to immediately hand over telecom data linked to recent assassinations bids to the relevant security agencies.

Three officers and eight soldiers linked to the death of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his companion were released from custody on Thursday.

Five soldiers however remain in detention. LBC television reported that they me be released next week.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea slammed on Thursday the assassination attempt against MP Butros Harb, questioning how the security forces have so far failed in uncovering any lead in any of the assassinations against March 14 officials.

He said: “Some security agencies only protect the LF and Mustaqbal Movement, while others still consider Syrian intelligence as their friend.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblt received on Thursday a cable from French President Francois Hollande, who voiced his country’s keenness on Lebanon’s stability and security.

He said in a cable to the Druze leader: “We have long defended Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty and we will continue on defending the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui confirmed on Thursday that the breakdown in internet services in Lebanon is due to a malfunctioning IMEWE cable in Alexandria in Egypt.

“We’re working on transferring the services to the cable in Cyprus,” Sehnaoui told LBC TV.

Security forces found on Thursday an explosive device in the elevator of a building in Beirut where opposition MP Butros Harb has an office after witnesses wrangled with a suspect who was whisked away by a suspicious vehicle.

Police found the device in the elevator shaft of the building that lies in Badaro district’s Sami Solh street a few hours after the suspect carrying a knife was subdued but managed to escape along with two accomplices.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly attended a tripartite meeting held at al-Naqoura crossing between the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and senior Lebanese and Israel officials.

UNIFIL Commander Maj.-Gen. Paolo Serra presided the meeting on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held talks on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several officials.

Miqati met with the chairman of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, Ruprecht Polenz, the undersecretary of the ministry of defense, Christian Schmidt, and Birgit Homburger, who is a member of the parliamentary committee on economics and technology.