The Orthodox Gathering held on Wednesday Christian leaders responsible for reaching an agreement over an electoral law that grants “real equality” among the various Lebanese factions.

It therefore warned in a statement against “some politicians’ hidden intentions to adopt the 1960 law, which will only maintain the current position and fate of Christians that is linked to other Lebanese sects.”

The Maronite Bishops Council highlighted on Wednesday Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit to Lebanon, praising all sects for their welcoming of the visit.

It said in a statement after their monthly meeting: “We hope the visit will bolster coexistence and dialogue among the Lebanese people.”

A restaurant in the southern city of Tyre was fined for violating the anti-tobacco law, the first such move since the regulation came into force on Monday, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported.

VDL said Wednesday that a Ministry of Economy staff member fined the SUNSET restaurant that lies on the southern corniche on Tuesday night after he saw several customers smoking water pipes indoor.

Unknown assailants abducted 16-year-old Syrian teen in the town of Hennawi in South Lebanon, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The assailants sent a text message to the parents of Mohammed Ali al-Jouban, informing them that the boy was kidnapped.

A bomb was found on Wednesday under al-Rmeileh Bridge south of Beirut, the National News Agency reported.

According to the news agency, a military expert arrived at the scene and revealed that the bomb wasn’t attached to a detonator.

Fuel prices climbed in the past few weeks, prompting the Gas Station Owners Association to threaten on Wednesday precautionary measures to face this hike.

“The government should cap soaring fuel prices,” Fadi Abou Shaqra, advisor to the Gas Station Owners Association told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Wednesday that his ties with the Hariri family date back to the days when slain former Premier Rafik Hariri was in power and they have continued to this day with his son and former PM Saad Hariri.

The PSP said in a statement: “Our common struggle and political relationship with the Hariri family transcend differences.”

Cabinet postponed to Thursday discussions on the new wage scale due to the emergence of differences between Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Change and Reform ministers.

Miqati had requested at the meeting that the funding of the new scale be derived from increased taxes on construction and other sources.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour called on Wednesday for a solution to the Syrian crisis that is affecting Lebanon as he chaired the Arab League Ministerial Council that opened its session in Cairo.

Mansour took over the chairmanship of the 138th session for a six-month period from Kuwait’s deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Sabah.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is scheduled to visit Lebanon next week to discuss with Lebanese officials ways to provide logistic support for the Lebanese army, An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.

An Nahar said Le Drian’s two-day visit next Thursday would come as part of a trip to Jordan where he is expected to inspect a Syrian refugee camp on the border with Syria.