Premier-designate Najib Miqati expressed regret at the March 14 coalition’s decision to boycott the new government but said he would form a cabinet that is worthy of representing the state.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published Monday, Miqati said he was on the verge of agreeing with March 14 when the alliance announced it would not participate in the cabinet.

France is investigating a Lebanese businessman on suspicion of money laundering after he landed at a Paris airport with €1.5 million, saying the money was to promote the image of Moammar Gadhafi.

Judicial officials said Ziad Taqieddine was detained upon his arrival from Libya on Saturday.

Caretaker premier Saad Hariri noted Monday that it had been decided to commemorate the March 14 anniversary this year on March 13 as his political camp does not want to "impede the interests of the country or the people, but rather to thwart coups, assassinations, oppression, tyranny, falsehood and deceit."

"We will gather on March 13 to say yes to 'Lebanon First,' yes to the will of the people, and yes to the State," Hariri said during a meeting at the Center House with delegations from Mustaqbal Movement's educational sector; heads of the municipalities of Jbeil, Batroun, Zghorta, Koura, Dennieh, Menieh and Central Bekaa; and families from Beirut.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced on Monday that the party will not take part in Sunday’s March 14 rally “as we can only remain in a position that would protect the peace and Lebanon’s unity.”

He said during his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “The party has never prevented the citizens from expressing their opinions but it knows that the people are responsible enough to refuse to participate in an occasion where speeches will be aimed at inciting strife, hatred, and sectarianism.”

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel called on Monday the March 14 supporters to participate in Sunday’s, saying: “The demonstration on March 13 is aimed at informing the East and West that the Lebanese people are always thirsty for freedom. They haven’t and won’t despair, they haven’t and won’t surrender.”

He stressed during a press conference: “We will confront the approaching coup that is demonstrated by Hizbullah’s arms … We will never let the blood of the Cedar Revolution martyrs go in vain.”

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stressed on Monday the importance of dialogue in settling Lebanese disputes.

He said after holding talks with House Speaker Nabih Berri: “The Speaker and I were in full agreement that irrespective of the differences that may exist internally within Lebanon, dialogue remains the only and most important tool for the Lebanese to resolve their problems.”

U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly reiterated on Monday that the international community will assess its relationship with Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s government based on the make-up of the cabinet.

Connelly made the remark during talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, said a U.S. embassy statement.

Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawaf Moussawi noted on Monday that the division in Lebanon lies between those seeking to defend their country and liberate it from Israeli aggression and those allowing the United States to employ the indictment for its own interests.

He stressed: “The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is only aimed at protecting Israel’s security through targeting the Resistance.”

The foreign ministry is monitoring the evacuation process of Lebanese from Libya, announcing that 21 citizens and five Palestinians have returned to Lebanon onboard a Middle East Airlines plane arriving from Istanbul, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat Monday.

It said in a statement on Sunday that the Lebanese and other nationalities are being evacuated from Libya by ship and are being sent to ports in Turkey, Syria, and Egypt.

Joseph Torbey, head of the Association of Lebanese Banks, criticized on Monday statements that three Lebanese banks are on a U.S. Treasury list of banks suspected of conducting illegal activity.

He told LBC: “Such claims are a cheap promotion of a non-existent cause.”