The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has no mandate to demarcate the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel and its mission is limited to preventing any hostile naval acts, UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said Monday.

He noted that the mandate of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force is limited to helping the Lebanese navy in preventing the unauthorized entry of arms by sea into Lebanon.

The Phalange Party noted on Monday that the government’s position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon does not adhere to United Nations Security Council 1757 on the issue.

It said in a statement after its weekly politburo meeting: “This will lead Lebanon to a confrontation with the international community, which will have negative repercussions on its economic, financial, and tourism fields.”

The Pre-Trial Judge, Daniel Fransen, issued on Friday July 8 international arrest warrants against the accused in the February 14, 2005 attack in which former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and many others were killed, said the Special Tribunal for Lebanon press office in a statement.

The Tribunal has requested Interpol to notify all States of the arrest warrants following a request from STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, it added.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stated on Monday that any country in the region and the world has the right to benefit from the water resources that fall within its territorial waters.

He hoped after holding talks with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel that Lebanon would be able to take advantage of the maritime resources found in the Mediterranean.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea voiced on Monday his support for the government’s efforts to demarcate the maritime borders.

He pointed out however that “demanding this right is one thing, while exploiting this issue for greater regional interests is another.”

President Michel Suleiman warned Israel against taking any unilateral decision that may violate international law concerning the maritime borders.

“Lebanon is ready to defend its territories, land and maritime borders with all the possible and legal ways,” he told his visitors on Monday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Monday the parties describing the international tribunal as politicized saying they should provide evidence of its politicization before making any accusations.

“We don’t accept a fake or politicized court,” al-Rahi told journalists at Bkirki. “But should we describe it as politicized just because we oppose it?” he wondered.

The second phase of the indictment in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will include the names of a number of Lebanese officials close to Syria and other Syrian individuals, revealed British security sources to the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper.

These names include the four generals, former General Security chief Jamil Sayyed, former head of the presidential guard Mustafa Hamdan, former Internal Security Forces chief Ali Hajj, and former military intelligence chief Raymond Azar.

Civil defense teams are still struggling to extinguish a fire that broke out in the GPI plastic factory at the town of Mazraat Yashouh in the Metn region Sunday night.

They are facing difficulties due to the high flammability of the raw materials used in plastic manufacturing and the thickness of the smoke, which has reached as far as Keserouan and Jbeil.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s television appearance Tuesday night is expected to set the roadmap for the opposition during the upcoming phase in Lebanon under Premier Najib Miqati’s government.

The daily An Nahar Monday reported that he will address all major issues in Lebanon, especially the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.