Sources close to Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the minister returned from Ankara with “great optimism” that he would reveal soon on the fate of 11 Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria since May.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Sunday that a visit by Charbel and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to Turkey was “fruitful.”

The Higher Islamic Shiite Council announced on Saturday that Sunday will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier Iraq's top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani announced that Monday is the first day the Eid.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday that Syrian President Bashar Assad should contact him to clarify the charges against Syrian officials in the case of ex-Minister Michel Samaha.

“It is expected; I swiftly contacted Assad when Syria accused 33 Lebanese figures of being linked to security matters in Syria… Today Lebanon is charging a Syrian official (Ali al-Mamlouk) and I am waiting for him to clarify the matter,” Suleiman told reporters at Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s summer headquarters in Diman.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday to take the necessary initiatives to guarantee the safe release of the two abducted Turkish nationals in Lebanon.

“He demanded Berri to press the release of the two Turkish nationals,” diplomatic sources told Anatolia news agency.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea held Hizbullah on Saturday responsible for the kidnappings fanning out in Lebanon, and urged President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati to declare a state of emergency “otherwise they would be contributing to the demise of the state.”

“Nasrallah described the situation as out of control, and I consider his statement unacceptable,” said Geagea in comments to Free Lebanon radio.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Saturday that Lebanon “belongs to all of its factions” and not just one party.

He said on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr: “National responsibilities require the cooperation of all sides in order to tackle the current situation.”

Speaker Nabih Berri received on Saturday a message from French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on the case of the 11 kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims.

He informed the speaker that the 11 pilgrims are alive and doing well.

Lebanese national Elias Adib Andraous was temporarily kidnapped on Friday after his captors suspected he was supporting the Syrian opposition, reported the National News Agency on Saturday.

He was released by the kidnappers on dawn on Saturday after being beaten and robbed by the assailants.

Four gunmen kidnapped on Saturday three Syrians on the airport road briefly, reported the National News Agency.

It said that the four gunmen, three of whom were masked, were riding in a silver SUV.

Progressive Socialist Movement leader MP Walid Jumblat’s recent harsh criticism against Hizbullah has led people to believe that he may be returning to the March 14 camp fold, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

It added however that the MP may have realized the severity of the current situation in Lebanon, which prompted him to return to the national dialogue and ease his rhetoric against Hizbullah.