Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh has hailed the ability of Syrian President Bashar Assad to prevent “conspirators” from targeting his regime.

In a meeting with a delegation from the “Youth for the National Unity of Syria,” Franjieh said: “The strength of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the love of the people for him and the army’s solidarity have thwarted the opportunity for Syria’s enemies who harbor ill-will.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warned that the Lebanese status quo was in tatters after the U.S. accused Iran of trying to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington.

In an interview with the Saudi al-Riyadh daily, Geagea said: “After the confrontation between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on one side and Iran on the other went out of hands, I am no longer sure that we could keep this status quo.”

The Lebanese Army Intelligence and a unit from the military’s second brigade in Akkar have seized machineguns and Rocket Propelled Grenades from a van in Halba, the National News Agency reported.

NNA said the van is owned by Kh.M., who hails from the border region of Wadi Khaled in the north. The weapons were seized on Friday after the army stopped the van on the Halba-Khraibeh road.

The General Labor Confederation is set to hold a series of meetings with top Lebanese officials starting Monday in an attempt to introduce changes to a government decision on a salary boost.

GLC chief Ghassan Ghosn told As Safir daily on Saturday that a delegation headed by him will hold talks with Labor Minister Marwan Charbel and later on with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas.

President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun are bickering over the appointments of top civil servants to administrative posts reserved for Christians, informed sources said.

The sources told As Safir daily published Saturday that Suleiman and Aoun have conflicting viewpoints on vacant posts, particularly the presidency of the Higher Judicial Council.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied on Saturday that he held talks with Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare during his visit to New York last month.

“No meeting took place between the premier and Judge Bellemare,” said a statement issued by Miqati’s press office.

Cabinet discussions on the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon kick off next week amid fears that the issue would lead to a protracted crisis that would threaten Premier Najib Miqati’s government.

Cabinet ministers are scheduled to discuss the 2012draft state budget at a session at Baabda palace on Tuesday. The funding of the tribunal is the most controversial topic in the budget.

Opposition MPs will ask the government to release an investigation report written by Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi about the alleged involvement of the Syrian embassy in the disappearance of Syrian opposition members, a parliamentary source told An Nahar daily on Saturday.

The lawmakers will inquire the government about the kidnapping of four Syrian brothers from al-Jassem family, Syrian opposition member Shebli al- Aisamy and Middle East Airlines engineer Joseph Sader, the source said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said Friday that he is staying with the Majority, stressing that the National Struggle Front will vote for funding the Special tribunal for Lebanon.

In an interview on Al-Manar, Jumblat asked Syria to stop bloodshed and oppression, stating that he is "not convinced with the reforms," but did stress that he did not break ties with Damascus.

The in absentia trial of accused in the disappearance of Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his companions came to an end on Friday with the verdict set for November 18.

The accused include ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.