Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on Tuesday warned against any attempt to fragment the army or divide the Lebanese into supporters and opponents of the military institution, stressing that “what’s important is keeping the army away from these negative stances which do not serve the national interest.”

Speaking to reporters after a two-hour meeting in Maarab with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Gemayel said: “We warn against this dangerous game that will fire back at its perpetrators and we have full confidence in the army which is shouldering its responsibilities during this period.”

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday condemned remarks by MP Mohammed Raad, head of Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc, about postponing the debate over a defense strategy for the country until after the liberation of Lebanese territory still being occupied by Israel.

“Hizbullah has decided to ruin all the efforts exerted by President Michel Suleiman and a number of parties to discuss the rest of the controversial issues during the upcoming dialogue sessions,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

Al-Jazeera television aired Tuesday a video it received from the abductors of 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims who were kidnapped in Syria in May, in which the kidnappers announced they will release two of the captives.

“In response to the appeal of the Muslim Scholars Committee in Lebanon, we will hand over two of the guests in our custody to their families under the supervision of the Muslim Scholars Committee in Lebanon and the state of Qatar,” the abductors said in what they dubbed “Statement Number 3.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun defended on Tuesday the Lebanese army, warning of attempts to create division among its ranks.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “Some sides are seeking to create division in the army to break it up into militias.”

The Army Command condemned on Tuesday “some lawmakers and officials’” ongoing incitement against the army, calling on people to end all forms of support for the military institution.

It said in a statement that it is “not concerned” with all of the developments on the ground, urging an end to demonstrations and the blocking of roads.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon commemorated on Tuesday International Criminal Justice Day and observed the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which opened its doors on 1 July 2002 in the Netherlands, announced the STL in a statement.

“This day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute in 17 July 1998, which founded the ICC, creating a historic milestone in the move towards ending impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of international concern – genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression,” it added.

Director-General of state-run Electricite du Liban Kamal al-Hayek said Tuesday that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel asked for 48 hours to resolve the crisis sparked by the company’s contract workers.

“We hope that the situation would be resolved after 48 hours but if it wasn’t, we would hold another meeting and announce the necessary measures,” al-Hayek warned following talks with Charbel, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi at the energy ministry headquarters in Beirut.

A Lebanese man nicknamed the "tattoo king" has been sentenced to one year in prison and 200 lashes in the conservative Muslim kingdom, a Saudi newspaper reported on Tuesday.

"Investigations revealed the Lebanese had been practicing this job for nine years," said al-Madina.

President Michel Suleiman held talks with Turkish leaders on Tuesday about the fate of the 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims who were kidnapped in Syria two months ago.

"We told the Lebanese side that we will do our best to find the kidnapped pilgrims but our opportunities are also restricted," a diplomatic source told Agence France Presse after Suleiman's meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly held talks on Tuesday with Energy Minister Jebran Bassil on the energy sector in Lebanon, announced the U.S. Embassy in a statement.

The ambassador encouraged “the Ministry’s continued commitment to implement fair, transparent regulations to develop the energy and water sectors.”