Pilots at Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), on Monday overwhelmingly voted in favor of a 48-hour strike in protest at the dismissal of a colleague undergoing cancer treatment.

The pilots' union said in a statement that the employee was fired while he was on sick leave and therefore his sacking “violates the labor law.”

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly expressed on Monday the United States’ concern over the possibility of Lebanon failing to meet its obligations to Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

She said after holding talks with Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas: “Its failure to meet these obligations could lead to serious consequences.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati during a visit to the Vatican on Monday invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit Lebanon next year, an aide from the prime minister's office said.

Miqati’s office in Beirut said in a statement that the visit would take place in the autumn but Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said only that the pope had received the invitation and has "shown an interest" in visiting.

The Grinch, the anti-holiday spirited hermit, will have a new address this year. Either the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut or Rabieh.

Premier Najib Miqati, who has threatened to resign if the cabinet failed to approve the funding of the special Tribunal for Lebanon, would put the country in disarray if he goes ahead with his move.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hoped on Monday that the concerned Lebanese forces would approve the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for the sake of the country’s higher interest and in order to avoid economic sanctions and internal tensions.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “All sides are better off revising the current sensitive phase in Lebanon and the region in order for them to avoid becoming captive of their escalatory positions on complex issues of contention.”

President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Judge Sir David Baragwanath stressed on Monday that the main purpose of the tribunal is to bring the killers of Lebanese citizens to justice.

He said in a statement in light of his recent visit to Lebanon: “Last week's visit to Beirut has given me great confidence that our mandate of challenging impunity will be fulfilled.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted on Sunday that the March 14 forces did not enjoy a positive year due to the “coup” that overthrew the government of former Premier Saad Hariri, but added that he predicted the upcoming days and weeks to overturn the results of this coup.

He said before an Iraqi delegation: “The Christians in the East can only be strong under the rule of a democratic regime where they can enjoy freedom and civil rights.”

French military forces are training armed Syrian rebels in Turkey and Lebanon to fight the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, a Turkish newspaper has reported.

According to Milliyet, as cited by The Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, the French forces are training the so-called Free Syrian Army to wage war against Syria's military.

President Michel Suleiman proposed that Hizbullah not attend Wednesday’s scheduled session so that the cabinet approves the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, al-Liwaa newspaper reported.

The daily said on Monday that Suleiman is exerting efforts to resolve the crisis that is threatening to collapse the cabinet.

The Internal Security Forces detained on Monday a gunman, who along with another accomplice opened fire at the office of al-Mustaqbal movement MP Mohammed Kabbara in the northern city of Tripoli, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported.

Kabbara confirmed to VDL the attack, saying the security forces opened an investigation into the incident that occurred at dawn Sunday.