Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hoped on Monday that the concerned Lebanese forces would approve the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for the sake of the country’s higher interest and in order to avoid economic sanctions and internal tensions.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “All sides are better off revising the current sensitive phase in Lebanon and the region in order for them to avoid becoming captive of their escalatory positions on complex issues of contention.”

President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Judge Sir David Baragwanath stressed on Monday that the main purpose of the tribunal is to bring the killers of Lebanese citizens to justice.

He said in a statement in light of his recent visit to Lebanon: “Last week's visit to Beirut has given me great confidence that our mandate of challenging impunity will be fulfilled.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted on Sunday that the March 14 forces did not enjoy a positive year due to the “coup” that overthrew the government of former Premier Saad Hariri, but added that he predicted the upcoming days and weeks to overturn the results of this coup.

He said before an Iraqi delegation: “The Christians in the East can only be strong under the rule of a democratic regime where they can enjoy freedom and civil rights.”

French military forces are training armed Syrian rebels in Turkey and Lebanon to fight the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, a Turkish newspaper has reported.

According to Milliyet, as cited by The Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, the French forces are training the so-called Free Syrian Army to wage war against Syria's military.

President Michel Suleiman proposed that Hizbullah not attend Wednesday’s scheduled session so that the cabinet approves the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, al-Liwaa newspaper reported.

The daily said on Monday that Suleiman is exerting efforts to resolve the crisis that is threatening to collapse the cabinet.

The Internal Security Forces detained on Monday a gunman, who along with another accomplice opened fire at the office of al-Mustaqbal movement MP Mohammed Kabbara in the northern city of Tripoli, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported.

Kabbara confirmed to VDL the attack, saying the security forces opened an investigation into the incident that occurred at dawn Sunday.

Tashnag party and Marada movement sources stressed on Monday that they would support the decisions taken by the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc.

In remarks to An Nahar daily on Monday, the Tashnag sources said the party is committed to any decision taken by the bloc.

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that he isn’t worried about the fate of the cabinet, stressing that the Lebanese should resolve the crisis on their own by taking responsibility and without depending on any foreign assistance.

“The outside is busy” trying to resolve other issues, Berri told As Safir newspaper.

Ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun have stressed that they would boycott a cabinet session set to discuss the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Wednesday unless Premier Najib Miqati meets their demands.

“No solution can salvage the government if the Change and Reform bloc’s clear requests are not met,” Energy Minister Jebran Bassil told As Safir daily published Monday.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on Sunday accused the Free Patriotic Movement of obstructing the functioning of state institutions, noting that the opposition March 14 camp was only interested in seeing the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon being funded by Premier Najib Miqati’s government.

In an interview with Al-Jadeed television, Gemayel warned that “we don’t have time to enter a power impasse because the international community, the (U.N.) Security Council and the (Special) Tribunal (for Lebanon) will not wait for us.”