Arab Democratic Party political relations official Rifaat Ali Eid accused on Tuesday the Free Syrian Army of being involved in the latest round of clashes in the northern city of Tripoli, while adding that the Mustaqbal Movement has also been smuggling arms to Syria.

He said during a press conference: “The Mustaqbal Movement has been inciting the residents of Tripoli to attack the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Sunday telephoned Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, urging military and security forces to “shoulder their responsibilities in order to stop the security deterioration and impose state authority” in the violence-hit city of Tripoli.

Hariri called for “putting an end, once and for all, to the cycle of violence that some parties want to drag the capital of the North into,” according to a statement issued by the ex-PM's press office.

A Lebanese Shiite pilgrim, who is among nine men held by rebels in Syria since May, urged in a new videotape their families to exercise self-restraint and reiterated the call for al-Mustaqbal MP Oqab Saqr to negotiate their release.

In the tape released by Syrian rebels in the town of Aazaz after midnight Friday, Ali Zgheib said that he along with the other “eight Lebanese are doing good.”

President Michel Suleiman told the Mufti of Tripoli and the north Sheikh Malek al-Shaar on Friday that he is following up on the alleged threats the clergyman is receiving and that made him decide to extend his stay in Europe.

"I have been contacted by several officials advising me not to return to Lebanon,” al-Shaar told the Central News Agency, revealing that among the callers was Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

The families of Lebanese pilgrims, who were kidnapped in May in Syria, briefly blocked on Friday the road near the Interior Ministry in Beirut's Hamra thoroughfare.

Protesters demanded authorities to swiftly resolve the matter, warning of further endeavors until the 9 remaining men are released.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Oqab Saqr challenged the Syrian government and his Lebanese foes on Thursday to prove that he was providing rebels with weapons after he broadcast the original tapes in which reports said he was striking a deal to arm the fighters.

OTV and al-Akhbar newspaper, both close to the Hizbullah-led March 8 majority coalition, broadcast and printed a three-part series of the recordings in which the lawmaker allegedly discussed arrangements to ship arms supplies to the Syrian opposition.

The Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek al-Shaar announced on Wednesday that he will not be returning to Lebanon from a trip to Europe after he has allegedly received death threats.

Radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) said that the northern Mufti has been advised to stay abroad, in fear of an assassination attempt against him.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks on Tuesday with a delegation from the Syrian National Coalition, headed by Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.

Hariri stressed to the Syrian opposition head: “We will not back down from supporting the Syrian revolution no matter how great the challenges.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun accused the March 14-led opposition of seeking to maintain the 1960s parliamentary electoral law for the 2013 elections.

He said in an interview to the FPM's facebook page: “The camp is boycotting parliament because it believes that by doing so, the 1960s law will be adopted in the June elections.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri slammed on Thursday the Israeli assault against the Gaza Strip, saying that it demonstrates the “hostile policy of Israel against the Palestinians and Arab people in general.”

He said in a statement: “The occurrence of the attack simultaneously with the ongoing Syrian revolution poses questions over its timing and is a sign of the clear intentions to thwart the revolt as much as possible.”