President Michel Suleiman demanded on Saturday the army command not to tolerate any act that would create security tension across the country.

Suleiman, during a meeting with Military Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel, called on the Lebanese to support the army and give priority to the country's best interest to maintain security and stability.

President Michel Suleiman hailed the “reasonable and logical” stance of former PM Saad Hariri backing the controversial issue of legalizing civil marriage, the al-Joumhouria daily said Saturday.

In a lengthy phone call with Hariri, Suleiman lauded the former prime minister's brave stance supporting civil marriage, the daily added.

Sources close to President Michel Suleiman on Friday shrugged off criticism that he had called for holding this year's parliamentary elections based on the 1960 law.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, the sources said Suleiman wants the elections to be held on time. But as long as MPs haven't yet agreed on a new draft-law then the authorities are compelled to abide by the rules and deadlines of the 1960 law which adopts the Qada as a district based on a winner-takes-all system.

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Thursday that the promises of the international community to help Lebanon meet the demands of Syrian refugees escaping the fighting in their country would be translated into deeds.

“We received signals that there is a certain support … But previous experiences haven't been very encouraging,” Suleiman told a delegation from the Association of Arab Newspaper Reporters in Lebanon.

President Michel Suleiman urged donors on Wednesday to provide Lebanon with $370 million assistance for refugees from Syria and called for countries to take in some of the displaced after ringing the alarm bell.

The government has approved a $370 million comprehensive plan for the refugees - $180 for Lebanese state institutions and $190 for international agencies, he told the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria held in Kuwait.

President Michel Suleiman stated on Tuesday that officials cannot “turn a blind eye” to couples getting married through civil marriage ceremonies, noting that a draft law on such unions had been devised in the past.

He said during a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace: “Failure to tackle draft laws at constitutional institutions is a violation of the Taef Accord.”

Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani issued a fatwa on Monday against moves to legalize civil marriages inside the country.

The religious edict came a day after President Michel Suleiman tweeted that he would remain steadfast in supporting such unions, while Prime Minister Najib Miqati wrote on his Twitter account that a consensus was required to address the issue.

The March 8 majority alliance and March 14 opposition officials intensified separate talks on Monday, two days ahead of a meeting of joint parliamentary committees on an electoral draft law.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora visited Baabda palace for talks with President Michel Suleiman on several proposals and “the importance of agreeing on a modern electoral law that produces political plurality in line with the constitution,” a presidential statement said.

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi reiterated on Sunday his support for civil marriage, saying any lawmaker can propose a draft-law in parliament for discussion.

In an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Qortbawi said that if Prime Minister Najib “Miqati continued to reject putting the issue on the cabinet's agenda, then any MP can propose a draft-law so that it takes the path of legislation in parliament.”

President Michel Suleiman called on Saturday for the adoption of a parliamentary electoral law that “produces diversity among all sects” in Lebanon.

He said before his visitors: “Proportional representation will achieve fair representation among these sects.”