Prime Minister Najib Miqati traveled to New York City on Saturday to take part in the United Nations General Assembly, where he is likely to stress the Lebanese government's policy of disassociating itself from the Syrian crisis, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He will likely also demand the international community's assistance in catering to the needs of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

President Michel Suleiman's national defense strategy proposal allows Hizbullah to keep its weapons but place them under the command of the Lebanese army, a vision that has drawn the criticism of the March 14 opposition alliance, media reports said Friday.

The arms of the resistance would be used by the state until the army is well equipped to take over all defense responsibilities, Suleiman told rival Lebanese leaders during a national dialogue session held at Baabda Palace on Thursday.

The Cabinet approved on Wednesday a 1.6-billion-dollar plan to properly equip the Lebanese army, Information Minister Walid al-Daouq said.

The payments will be made over a five-year period and the plan calls for providing the military institution with proper arms and equipment.

President Michel Suleiman is adamant to propose his vision on the country's defense strategy during a national dialogue session scheduled to be held at Baabda Palace on Thursday, Environment Minister Nazem al-Khoury, who is close to the head of state, said.

However, al-Khoury told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday that the discussion of the strategy depends on the presence of all members of the all-party talks.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc condemned on Tuesday recent claims that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were present in Lebanon, saying that they have revealed “the true nature of forces that have claimed to have national affiliations.”

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The so-called Hizbullah arms are in fact Iranian and they threaten the national pact.”

President Michel Suleiman demanded on Tuesday security agencies to join hands with a ministerial committee to locate the abductees inside and outside Lebanon.

Suleiman ordered the security agencies to set a comprehensive plan to find the location of the kidnapped Lebanese, set them free and detain the assailants at any price, the National News Agency reported.

President Michel Suleiman tasked on Monday Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn to investigate the Syrian bombardment of Kherbet Daoud, calling on the security forces to act firm with the kidnappings in Lebanon.

Media reports said that Suleiman tasked Ghosn and the concerned officials with raising information regarding the incident that occurred on Monday on the outskirts of the eastern town of Arsal.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel questioned on Monday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's call for protests against the anti-Islam film that sparked outrage in the Muslim world, noting that he made the announcement shortly after Pope Benedict XVI ended his trip to Lebanon.

He said during a press conference: “Nasrallah ended the accord, reached during the pontiff's visit, through this call for demonstrations.”

President Michel Suleiman held talks on Monday with the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Rokn-Abadi on recent statements that members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards are present in Lebanon.

He requested from the ambassador an official clarification from the Islamic republic over these remarks.

President Michel Suleiman is expected to tackle the national defense strategy at a national dialogue session on Thursday, media reports said.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday that Suleiman will discuss with Lebanese foes the matter after conferees at the last national dialogue session, held at Beiteddine palace on August 16, decided to postpone discussing it due to the absence of several members, in particular, Speaker Nabih Berri.