The cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of the six members of the petroleum authority as it failed anew to agree on the sources of funding for the new wage scale.

“The cabinet agreed on the following candidates for the petroleum authority: Nasser Hteit (Shiite), Walid Nasser (Greek Catholic), Wissam al-Zahabi (Sunni), Amin Ibrahim (Druze), Wissam Shbat (Maronite) and Gaby Daaboul (Greek Orthodox),” NBN television reported.

Hizbullah on Wednesday condemned accusations by Bahrain which has claimed that the party was behind Monday's bombings in Manama, noting that the Bahraini regime perpetrated the incident in order to “repress the peaceful opposition.”

“The Bahraini authorities continue their episodes of false allegations and claims by launching unjust accusations against Hizbullah, the last of which was accusing the party of being behind the latest bombings that shook Bahrain,” the party's media department said in a statement.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged on Wednesday the need to activate government work in order to tackle pending issues and the people's daily concerns.

He revealed that he had conducted over the past few hours “intense” contacts over the appointment of members of the petroleum authority.

Pope Benedict XVI's envoy to Lebanon Cardinal Robert Sarah held talks on Wednesday with President Michel Suleiman, who stressed that his visit aims at checking on the conditions of the Syrian refugees in the country.

Sarah pointed out that he will meet spiritual leaders and faithful from Christian churches present in Syria, hold a coordination meeting of Catholic charities and meet with refugees who have fled Syria.

The March 14 General Secretariat hailed on Wednesday President Michel Suleiman's “sovereign” positions during the current political crisis, renewing its call for the resignation of the government and formation of a neutral one.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “All powers must now and always adhere to the state and national interests, instead of resorting to dialogue.”

Maronite Bishops urged on Wednesday Lebanese politicians to cooperate with President Michel Suleiman's call for dialogue, saying the cabinet issue should be resolved within the constitutional framework.

Following their monthly meeting under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and with the partial attendance of papal envoy Cardinal Robert Sarah, the bishops urged “all politicians to abide by the Baabda Declaration and mainly the article that calls for steering Lebanon clear of conflicts.”

President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Najib Miqati congratulated on Wednesday Barack Obama on his reelection as U.S. president for a second term.

Suleiman said in his cable of congratulations: “I would like to take this opportunity to express my desire to bolster cooperation between our two countries and advance our bilateral ties in all fields.”

Former head of the restaurant owners syndicate Paul Ariss announced on Wednesday the boycott of the smoking ban that has been imposed in Lebanon.

“After authorities implemented the smoking ban, work deteriorated by 60 percent,” Ariss told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

Italian deputy Foreign Minister Staffan De Mistura was optimistic on Wednesday that the Lebanese would overcome their political crisis and engage in dialogue.

“We are concerned over the stability and security of Lebanon amid the Syrian crisis,” De Mistura said following talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

Security forces launched on Wednesday a wide inspection campaign in Roumieh prison to confiscate any prohibited possessions obtained by the inmates, the National News Agency reported.

According to the news agency, around 100 Internal Security members and officers from the Jdeideh police station are assisting the security guards at the facility in the campaign.