President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday the importance of holding dialogue between all the political factions.

He noted: “Dialogue has become a necessity for all countries and not just Lebanon.”

The American Embassy in Lebanon announced Thursday a change in its policy regarding visas for American citizens.

Citizens are asked to make online appointments before coming to the Embassy in order to provide efficient effective service.

Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah slammed on Thursday the indictment in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, saying that depending on telecommunications data alone as evidence is not enough in a case as sensitive as the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He said during a press conference on the indictment’s telecommunications data: “The tribunal, its decisions, and the investigation have created a dangerous divide in Lebanon.”

British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher presented his credentials to President Michel Suleiman at Beiteddine Palace on Thursday, the British embassy said in a statement.

In his first official statement via a video message in Arabic and English, Fletcher said: ‘‘I am delighted to be taking up this post, and determined to do all I can to enhance the partnership between the UK and this extraordinary country.”

Two brothers were wounded at dawn Thursday when unknown assailants tossed four hand grenades at a petrol station in Rwaissat Jdeideh area, the National News Agency said.

NNA said the grenades were tossed at the Mar Elias gas station.

Premier Najib Miqati travelled to Mecca for Omra on Wednesday after a 10-minute cabinet session held at Baabda palace to discuss the controversial electricity bill.

Following the session, Miqati held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri at the parliament building. Both men agreed on postponing a parliamentary session that was set to endorse the electricity bill had the cabinet approved it.

March 14 leaders discussed the indictment issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Hizbullah’s stance from it during talks they held on Tuesday night, al-Liwaa daily reported.

The newspaper said Thursday that the meeting was held between Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel, former Premier Fouad Saniora and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea.

A solution to the electricity crisis could come through calm dialogue among the bickering parties, sources close to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said insisting that the differences with the Free Patriotic Movement were not political.

The sources told several Beirut newspapers published Thursday that the timeframe ahead of the Sept. 7 cabinet session could pave way for a deal on the electricity bill to allocate $1.2 billion dollars to Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to generate 700 megawatts of electricity.

Ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun have accused Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat’s representatives in the cabinet of turning the electricity crisis into a political struggle.

“Ninety percent of the plan has been discussed and only the political problem stirred by MP Walid Jumblat remains under discussion,” FPM sources said in remarks published in several Beirut dailies.

President Michel Suleiman has warned cabinet ministers against division on a controversial electricity bill, saying the government shouldn’t collapse over “technical” differences between ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat.

Suleiman’s sources told As Safir daily published Thursday that the president’s warning came during a 10-minute cabinet session held at the Baabda palace.