Security forces on Friday closed all the roads leading to the U.S. Embassy in Awkar because of a nearby rally that was held in celebration of the American withdrawal from Iraq, reported Voice of Lebanon radio.

A statement from the demonstrators praised “the Iraqi people and their resistance that contributed to the country’s liberation.”

President Michel Suleiman on Friday congratulated the Lebanese on the occasion of the New Year, hoping 2012 would be a year of dialogue, understanding and stability.

In a statement issued by his press office, Suleiman hoped “2012 would bring happiness and stability for the nation and would be a year of dialogue and understanding” that would contribute to the productivity of public institutions.

A fire engulfed a sponge and cotton factory in the town of Mazraat Yashouh north of Beirut on Friday, without causing any casualties.

Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) said firefighters brought the blaze at Daou Sponge and Cotton Factory under control a few hours after its eruption around 8:00 am.

The Shura Council has described a cabinet decision on a wage hike as “illegal” after Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas proposed it to the government, knocking down a last-minute deal made between the General Labor Confederation and the Economic Committees, ministerial sources said.

In remarks to pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Friday, the sources expected the Shura Council to refer the decision back to the cabinet.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel denied on Friday any al-Qaida presence in Lebanon, stressing that the country could be a route for the group but not a base.

He said during a press conference at the ministry that Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn’s statements on al-Qaida were taken out of context.

The Higher Defense Council shied away from the claims made by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn about the presence of al-Qaida in Lebanon in a sign that the state is aware of the dangers of such allegations, high-ranking opposition sources said.

“The disregard for the claims made by the defense minister about the presence of al-Qaida in the Bekaa (valley) proves their lack of credibility and the awareness of the state through its entire constitutional and security institutions that this political mistake could lead it down a dangerous slope particularly at the international level,” the March 14 sources told An Nahar daily published Friday.

The Obama administration has hit two men with sanctions for allegedly laundering money on behalf of Mexican and Colombian drug cartels.

The move blocks any assets in the U.S. belonging to Lebanese-Colombian nationals Jorge Fadlallah Cheaitelly and Mohamad Zouheir El Khansa, and blocks Americans from doing business with them.

The Lebanese Forces condemned on Thursday the death of three Lebanese citizens who were killed by Syrian gunfire in the border area of Wadi Khaled, calling on the government to assume its responsibilities towards the people.

It said in a statement: “The government should also request an immediate clarification from the Syrian government over the incident.”

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stated on Thursday that the Lebanese should be united in averting any negative repercussions of regional developments on their country.

He said before a delegation from the Bekaa town of Arsal: “The army cooperates with all citizens equally and without being affected by the political situation.”

The Economic Committees hoped on Thursday that the government would retract its wage hike decree and return to the agreement that was reached between the Committees and the General Labor Confederation.

A delegation from the Committees held a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati during which it lamented the politicization of the wage hike, slamming its “disregard for the historic agreement that was reached with the GLC.”