United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted that Lebanon is passing a critical phase due to the “dangerous challenges” caused by the Syrian crisis, reported the daily An Nahar Saturday.

He said that an agreement over a the electoral process, in line with the constitution, will act as a main factor in protecting Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.

Lebanon is set to be the focus of discussions at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Monday, announced the French Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Western sources told An Nahar daily reported Saturday that the meeting, held in Brussels, stems from fears over Hizbullah's fighting in Syria.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stressed on Friday that the discussions over the formation of a new government are not “bleak,” said various media reports Saturday.

He said: “Discussions did not reach a dead-end.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam stressed that he prefers to step down from his post to form a new cabinet instead of forming one that fails the first test it faces, the As Safir daily quoted him as saying on Saturday.

“I refuse to form a cabinet that fails the first hurdle and I prefer to excuse myself from the mission instead of failing,” he said.

Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Michael Bogdanov is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday on a visit where he is set to meet with a number of Lebanese officials.

He is expected to meet with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and Premier-designate Tammam Salam, as well as March 8 and 14 camp officials.

The botched attempt to smuggle weapons to extremist Syrian rebels, which was foiled by the Lebanese army in Ain Zhalta, has been described as a major operation, as reports revealed that an army first adjutant was involved in the bid.

In remarks to al-Manar television, judicial and military sources described the thwarted operation as major and unprecedented.

The case of the nine Lebanese abductees in Syria's Aazaz will witness an important positive breakthrough within the next 10 days, a spokesman for the Northern Storm Brigade said on Friday.

And as he declined to clarify the nature of the declared breakthrough, the spokesman told Turkey's Anatolia news agency that “a list containing the names of dozens of Syrian women detainees will be submitted soon to the Syrian regime through mediators, in order to swap them for the nine Lebanese nationals.”

A trial in the case of the 2007 Ain Alaq bombing took place on Friday.

The trial took place against three suspects currently in custody and two others who are still at large, with the next hearing set for May 24.

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Friday that the Lebanese people can handle their own affairs without political directions from any power.

He said addressing U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly: “We do not need your advice over the parliamentary elections or any other issue.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned President Michel Suleiman, lauding his role in preserving stability in Lebanon and hoping that a new cabinet would be formed soon, Baabda palace said Friday.

A presidential statement said that Merkel also expressed support to Lebanon's call for a U.N.-led international conference to discuss the issue of Syrian refugees.