The Christian Lady of the Mountain Gathering issued on Monday amendments to the document it issued on October 23, revealing that it has also formed a follow-up committee to tackle the Gathering’s future steps.

The amendments included “emphasizing the role of the church in establishing the foundations and principles of the Taef accord seeing as the agreement is an example of what Lebanon can offer in democracy in the Arab world, which is based on citizenship and diversity,” it announced during a press conference.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Monday those who are seeking to “impoverish” Christians in the East, saying that the martyrs in Iraq are pledging for the help of the officials to safeguard stability and peace.

“Those who were martyred were a sacrifice for our beloved Iraq to implement peace, justice and stability,” al-Rahi said in a mass on the first anniversary of the attack on Our Lady of Salvation church in Baghdad.

Security authorities at Rafik Hariri International Airport have arrested a Syrian national accused of smuggling weapons, Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) reported Monday.

VDL said Mohammed Shaker Toufiq was arrested in the early hours of Monday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat confirmed on Sunday his centrist position with a clear tilt towards the March 14-led opposition, An Nahar newspaper reported.

“Jumblat was a forerunner in specifying the principles and the roadmap concerning the situation in Syria,” sources told the daily on Monday.

Consultations between the major parties represented in the cabinet over the funding of the international tribunal are expected to gain “serious momentum” following Eid al-Adha over the weekend, ministerial sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily on Monday that all officials involved in the funding are now aware of the serious consequences if the cabinet fails to fund by the end of November the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that is set to try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins.

The cabinet is scheduled to discuss the parliamentary elections draft law and several other issues during a session at Baabda palace on Tuesday.

The government has 79 items on its agenda. In addition to the electoral law, ministers are expected to discuss a suggestion by the foreign ministry to rent the Coral Beach building and turn it into a temporary headquarters for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

Arab League Chief Nabil al-Arabi cancelled on Monday his visit to Beirut because of the Syrian crisis, Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) reported.

Al-Arabi was scheduled to meet with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri along with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to meet President Michel Suleiman before the end of this week to discuss with him the possibility of resuming dialogue between the Lebanese foes.

Berri said in comments to As Safir newspaper published on Monday that he will discuss with Suleiman the chances of resuming the national dialogue, to inquire him about the reasons that are preventing the launching of the all-party talks.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Monday that Lebanon “should fund” the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ruling out any threat if the cabinet doesn’t pay Lebanon’s share to the court.

In remarks to Ad-Diyar daily, Suleiman said that Lebanon is characterized by its commitment to the United Nations legitimacy and its international resolutions.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday noted that “solving the issue of Hizbullah’s arms is not in the hands of the Lebanese alone,” emphasizing the international community’s role in that regard.

Upon his return to Beirut from a pastoral visit to the United States and a brief trip to the Vatican, al-Rahi said: “I have said that it will be a major feast in Lebanon when the Resistance hands over its weapons, but what’s more important is that I have said the international community must play a role to solve this Lebanese-international issue.”