United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Neeraj Singh stated on Monday that the situation in southern Lebanon is calm and stable, reported the National News Agency.

He denied that any unusual activity was taking place in the South, particularly at Kfarkila.

Premier Najib Miqati and Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan will on Monday put the final touches on a draft-law aimed at resolving the controversy on the extra-budgetary spending made in 2006-2010, the lawmaker said.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5), Kanaan said there is consensus on the approval of the draft-law formulated to resolve the $11 billion spending made by the governments of ex-PMs Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri between 2006 and 2009 and the $5 billion spent by the national unity cabinet of Hariri in 2010.

The appointments of top civil servants in state posts remained a point of contention between President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun, As Safir newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily noted that despite the “optimistic” reports on the issue, the dispute hasn’t been resolved yet.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati called for an emergency meeting at the Grand Serail to tackle the rise in the discovery of spoiled food products in Lebanon, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

Miqati in coordination with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas sought to hold a meeting on Wednesday with Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and high-ranking officials from the general security, the state security, the army intelligence and the customs.

Several Kuwaiti lawmakers have voiced strong objections to a planned visit to their country by Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil, noting that “he is an ardent supporter of the oppressive Syrian regime.”

“Bassil’s stances in support of the Syrian killing machine against the unarmed Syrian people make him unwelcome in Kuwait,” said MP Badr al-Dahoum, spokesman of the Justice parliamentary bloc, stressing that “guests who visit Kuwait must respect the official and popular stance on the Syrian regime.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday held talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan, wrapping up a three-day visit to the kingdom.

After the meeting, al-Rahi said he sensed Abdullah’s keenness on avoiding violence in the region and encouraging dialogue aimed at reaching political settlements.

Lebanon welcomes the Russian initiative on Syria that was adopted by Arab states during Saturday’s meeting in Cairo, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said on Sunday, while reiterating insistence on “Lebanon’s stances concerning the previous resolutions” passed by the Arab League.

“Lebanon welcomed the Russian initiative and the points agreed on with the Russian side, reiterating its stances on the previous resolutions,” Mansour said in Beirut, after taking part in the Cairo talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Arab counterparts.

Hizbullah on Sunday claimed that “there are some March 14 associates in power who are involved in facilitating arming and infiltration into Syria,” describing the U.S. embassy in Lebanon as “a military operations room against Syria.”

“The countries that conspired against Syria have admitted that they had engaged in an uncalculated adventure and nowadays we’re noticing how they have started tactical, political retreats,” Sheikh Nabil Qaouq, deputy head of Hizbullah’s Executive Council, said.

The Lebanese army contained an armed clash between rival clans in the eastern city of Baalbek on Sunday to prevent the confrontation from spiraling out of control.

The National News Agency and Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said a military unit contained the clash between the Jaafar and Shamas clans that included the use of light weapons and rocket propelled grenades.

Hizbullah praised on Sunday the demonstrations held against Bahraini authorities, saying Manama had no choice but to respond to the rightful demands of the people.

“The popular demonstrations taking place in Bahrain proved … that those engaged in an uprising for freedom and a fair political system in their country … are the majority of the Bahraini people,” Hizbullah said in a statement.