A debate has erupted in France between sides supporting the withdrawal of French troops from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and others who advocate maintaining them.

Diplomatic sources told the Central News Agency on Tuesday that the former are questioning the purpose of retaining the troops in light of the repeated attacks against it by terrorist groups whose identity and goals remain unknown.

The Lebanese authorities have reported to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on the measures that they have taken to search for, arrest, and transfer those accused in the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, said the STL press office in a statement.

Lebanese Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza submitted his report Tuesday, it added.

The Israeli air force has begun using unmanned aircraft to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions over Israeli gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea out of fear that they will be targeted by Hizbullah, The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday.

The Israeli daily said the decision to deploy the drones came after the Shiite party warned Israel that it would protect Lebanon’s maritime sovereignty.

Pirme Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Tuesday that the critical developments in the region should force the Lebanese to fortify the internal scene against any dangers that might spread into the country

He asked during a Ramadan iftar: “How can Lebanon benefit from getting involved in the regional developments?”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat expressed pessimism over developments in Syria, saying that the international evaluation of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s alleged reforms isn’t very optimistic.

High-ranking sources quoted Jumblat as saying: “I fear for Syria as a whole.”

Informed sources have denied that Syria has sent to Lebanon for the second time arrest warrants against 33 Lebanese personalities in the lawsuit filed by former head of Lebanon’s General Security Department Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed.

The sources told al-Mustaqbal daily published Tuesday that Syria only sent a detailed document on the identities of the 33 figures. They include judges, security officers, politicians, journalists and other Lebanese, Arab and foreign officials and individuals.

Cabinet members have agreed on urging security forces in preventing arms smuggling form Lebanon to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for smugglers seeking to strike the security and stability of Syria, media reports said Tuesday.

As Safir newspaper said that Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Mohammed Fneish and Ali Qanso stressed during a cabinet session held at the Grand Serail on Monday that “every person has the freedom to express his political stance but this should not turn into participation in the plot against Syria.”

A Lebanese truck seized by Syrian authorities in the governorate of Homs included 250 hunting rifles smuggled to Iraq through Syria, informed sources told al-Liwaa daily, refuting allegations that the shipment’s final destination was Syria.

The sources said in remarks published Tuesday that the truck is owned by Ghassan Moussa Fawwaz who hails from the southern town of al-Ghassaniyyeh.

Hundreds of Lebanese intellectuals, journalists and activists staged a rally in solidarity with the Syrian people Monday evening in Beirut’s Martyrs Square.

Amid tight security measures taken by police special forces, the demonstrators shouted slogans in support of the Syrian people and lit candles near the Martyrs Monument to commemorate the victims of a violent crackdown by the Syrian authorities on anti-regime protests.

Speaker Nabih Berri said that the March 14 forces have lost control over their nerves, stressing that disarming Israel and not the resistance must be a national aim.

“The real danger is the Israeli greed and its wars against Lebanon… Disarming the Zionist arms not the resistance is an urgent national goal,” Berri said on Monday at an Iftar at BIEL.