Hospitals were on Monday only admitting “critical cases” during a strike by hospitals and doctors for the refusal of the National Social Security Fund to increase physicians' fees.

The head of the Syndicate of Private Hospitals Suleiman Haroun told Free Lebanon Radio, that the hospitals will only admit patients with severe hemorrhage, those who have heart and respiratory problems and who undergo dialysis, and victims of traffic accidents.

Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas expressed his confidence on Monday that the cabinet will overcome the dispute on the electricity crisis “safely” during a session at the Baabda Palace.

“Prime Minister (Najib Miqati) proposed his scientific approach for the electricity crisis based on the available capabilities and latest technologies,” Nahhas told Voice of Lebanon Radio (93.3).

Beirut lawyers observed a one-day strike on Monday to protest the procrastination in the appointment of the head of the Higher Judicial Council.

The lawyers did not attend court proceedings at the Beirut Justice Palace which only witnessed the presence of the prosecutors, defendants and witnesses that could attend private hearings in the absence of their attorneys.

Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi is eyeing his candidacy to the premiership in case the cabinet collapses due to the sharp rift between the members of the government, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Monday.

Al-Safadi, who is loyal to Miqati, had joined Change and Reform bloc Minister Jebran Bassil in opposing the premier’s approach to the electricity crisis.

A campaign launched by the Free Patriotic Movement and Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi against Premier Najib Miqati revolves not only around the electricity sector but also the appointment of civil servants to state institutions, ministerial sources said Monday.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat however that the procrastination in the appointments is to be blamed on the differences between President Michel Suleiman and FPM leader Michel Aoun.

A list backed by the March 14 forces, the Progressive Socialist Party and the Jamaa Islamiya won all five seats in the by-elections of the Beirut Order of Engineers and Architects held on Sunday.

By claiming all five seats, the aforementioned coalition seized the majority on the council. The March 8 forces only needed to win one seat in order to retain their majority.

Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Edgard Maalouf was hospitalized on Sunday after he suffered from hypertension and collapsed during a mass in Bkirki.

Dr. Charles Jazra told OTV however that Maalouf was in a stable condition and could resume his functions soon.

Israeli warplanes on Sunday staged mock air raids over southern Lebanon and flew at a low altitude over Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa.

“Starting 10:10 am today, Israel carried out mock air raids at a medium altitude over the areas of Nabatiyeh, Iqlim al-Tuffah, Marjayoun and Khiam,” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea denied on Sunday there was a crisis in his party’s ties with the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki despite severe criticism of Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s statements on Syria.

In remarks to a visiting delegation of women from the LF branch in Zahle, Geagea admitted that he had a “sharp reaction” to al-Rahi’s statements despite his respect for the patriarch’s seat.

Israel has warned Lebanese authorities against a march by protestors to areas bordering the Jewish state on Land Day to mark the loss of Arab lands in the Galilee, Israeli daily Haaretz reported Sunday.

“Israel has asked Lebanon, using intermediaries, to stop its residents from approaching the Israeli border on Friday as part of Land Day protests,” the newspaper said.