Pope Benedict XVI has appealed to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike to "root out" religious fundamentalism, as deadly unrest sweeps the Middle East over a film mocking Islam.

The pope, who arrived in Lebanon on Friday for a three-day visit, has also told the Christian minority in the Middle East not to fear for its future.

An assistant to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced on Friday that the Israeli military threats have placed “Israeli citizens one step away from the grave,” adding that Hizbullah would be prepared to defense the Islamic republic against any assault.

Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi declared: “If the Zionist enemy one day considered taking any step against us, then the resistance groups, especially Hizbullah in Lebanon, will easily retaliate against the entity.”

Youths on Friday attempted to storm the Tripoli Serail in protest against a film that mocks Islam.

One person was killed and 25 were wounded in the ensuing clashes between the protesters and the security forces.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived on Friday for a three-day visit to Lebanon, saying the coexistence of the country's different religious communities could serve as an example to all the Middle East.

He said: “The Lebanese people have set an example of diversity and mutual coexistence for the Middle East and the world.”

The army confiscated on Friday a pick-up truck loaded with weapons and detained eight Syrian passengers.

According to a communique issued by the army, a military unit ordered the pick-up truck to stop but it didn't abide by the orders and motioned to fire at the troops.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denounced on Friday that recent attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that killed the ambassador and three others, saying that the “friendly” U.S. people shouldn't be held responsible for the work of an “individual” citizen.

“We strongly condemn the attack in Libya,” Miqati said during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly at the Grand Serail.

Former Information Minister Tarek Metri confirmed on Friday his appointment as U.N. special envoy to Libya and head of the U.N. Support Mission there (UNSMIL), stating that his main task is to help people in the transition process towards democracy.

“My main task is to help the Libyan authorities build their state institutions and prepare for fair and successful elections,” Metri told the Saudi Okaz daily.

Israeli troops handed a deaf nine-year-old Lebanese boy over to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon a day after entering Israel, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

NNA said that Mohammed Hassan Fadl Jawad, who crossed into Israel on Thursday afternoon, was handed over through the Naqoura crossing to UNIFIL, which transferred him to the Lebanese army.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held behind closed doors meetings with several officials to activate the government's performance by resolving issues obstructing its work.

Ministerial sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the PM held talks on Thursday evening with AMAL's Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil , Hizbullah's Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish and Free Patriotic Movement's Energy Minister Jebran Bassil.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived on Friday for a three-day visit to Lebanon, to bring a message of peace for the Middle East.

His plane arrived at Beirut international airport to a massive official, media, and popular reception.