Syria's ambassador to Beirut urged Lebanese authorities on Thursday to take legal action following allegations a deputy was funding and arming protesters in Syria.

Ali Abdul Karim Ali "requested Lebanon's authorities and judiciary take action ... in order to preserve brotherly ties between the two countries," according to the transcript of an interview with Hizbullah's Intiqad website.

The Loyalty to the Resistance bloc condemned on Thursday the Mustaqbal movement’s activity, accusing it of being responsible for the problems in Lebanon.

It said in a statement: “The problems plaguing Lebanon are the result of the Mustaqbal movement’s policies and governments that have turned Lebanon into a farm” at the American administration’s mercy.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri traveled to Riyadh on Thursday to attend the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah’s sister, a statement by his press office said.

Hariri was accompanied by his bureau chief Nader Hariri and his advisor Hani Hammoud, it said.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati announced on Thursday after meeting President Michel Suleiman that the two agreed to give themselves more time before revealing the new government.

He said after the meeting at Baabda Palace: “After consulting with the President, we decided to wait in order for the government to live up to the Lebanese people’s expectations.”

President Michel Suleiman voiced his concern on Wednesday over the ongoing vacuum in Lebanon given the failure to form a new government.

His visitors reported him as saying that the stalling in the formation process will harm the Lebanese’s interests, especially given the unstable situation in the region, reported the daily Al-Mustaqbal Thursday.

The owners of bakeries vowed to launch an open-ended strike on Wednesday despite a meeting set by Caretaker Economy Minister Mohammed Safadi for Monday to find a solution to their demands.

Head of the Bakeries Association Kazem Ibrahim told An Nahar daily in remarks published Thursday that the strike will be launched next Wednesday and will not reach a halt until the authorities meet the demands of the bakers.

Hizbullah MP Nawaf Moussawi accused the March 14 forces of seeking to avenge the March 8 coalition, mainly Hizbullah and Amal, by pitting southerners against each other over illegal construction on state property.

Moussawi told As Safir daily in remarks published Thursday that March 14, led by al-Mustaqbal movement, sought to “ignite sectarian strife” by pitting neighbors against each other and stirring animosity within the same family members.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati won’t give up his task of forming the new government despite the latest surprising stance made by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and more crippling demands by other March 8 members, Miqati’s sources told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

“There was an agreement to hold meetings between some leaders including a meeting between Aoun and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah … but some surprising political stances … shattered the atmosphere of optimism,” the sources said in remarks published Thursday.

The ring that kidnapped the seven Estonian men last month carried out its operation to demand a big ransom after thinking they were British or French tourists, judicial sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

The sources said in remarks published Thursday that the Estonians are still in the custody of their kidnappers – three Lebanese and one Syrian.

Amnesty International urged Lebanese authorities on Thursday to investigate the fate of thousands of people who disappeared during the 1975-1990 civil war and are believed dead or held in Syria.

The appeal came on the 36th anniversary of the outbreak of the sectarian bloodshed that left more than 150,000 people dead.