President Michel Suleiman voiced on Monday his satisfaction with the Koura by-election that took place on Sunday, saying that it demonstrated the Lebanese people’s attachment to democracy.

He stressed the importance of holding constitutional obligations, such as elections, on schedule “because that is the basis of democratic systems.”

A previously unknown group issued on Monday a statement calling on Syrian refugees to leave Lebanon immediately, media reports said.

The group calling itself al-Rida Forces said that all the Syrians currently on Lebanese territories should leave the country.

President Michel Suleiman and his French counterpart Francois Hollande discussed during the former’s visit to France on Thursday the possibility of the European country providing the Lebanese army with HOT missiles, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

An informed French source told the daily that France’s political powers are keen on resolving this issue, while the military powers remain hesitant on this matter.

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Sunday that the Koura by-election would serve as an opportunity to assert Lebanon’s democracy.

He said in a statement: “Democracy begins with the freedom of expression.”

French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli hailed on Saturday the Lebanese democracy and coexistence, which became a model in the region.

“Lebanon’s democracy, freedom and coexistence among its citizens became a model in the region, in addition to the stability it witnessed during the recent months,” Paoli said in a ceremony held in Kasr al-Sanawbar on the occasion of French Bastille Day.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel delegated anew a security official to Turkey to address the case of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, the Central News Agency reported on Saturday.

According to the news agency, the kidnappers expressed readiness to free six out of the eleven Lebanese pilgrims until investigations with the rest are complete.

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns completed his two-day visit to Lebanon on Friday and acknowledged Lebanon’s disassociation policy from the developments in Syria, said the U.S. Embassy in a statement.

He reiterated “U.S. interest in keeping Lebanon insulated from the violence in Syria.”

The cabinet is exerting efforts to resolve the appointments of top civil servants in state posts by filling the vacant positions on different stages, As Safir newspaper reported on Friday.

“We will not appoint (the civil servants) in one package… We will appoint them on stages,” a minister told the daily.

President Michel Suleiman stated on Thursday that his visit to France is aimed at bolstering Lebanese-French ties and helping it maintain its stability amid the regional changes.

He said: “The visit is aimed at supporting and preserving Lebanon’s neutral position on Arab developments.”

Cabinet approved on Wednesday the 2012 state budget draft law, referring it to parliament, and with Prime Minister Najib Miqati announcing that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon had been funded.

He revealed: “Lebanon paid its share of the funding this morning outside of the state budget.”