Security at Rafik Hariri International Airport thwarted on Friday an attempt to smuggle narcotic pills abroad, reported the National News Agency.

It said that eight kilograms of captagon pills were found in the possession of two Syrian travelers.

The resignation of the presiding judge of the international tribunal's trial chamber came over his objection to several measures that contradict the court's rules of procedure, As Safir daily reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper also claimed that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is prosecuting ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's suspected assassins, had issued an indictment against a fifth Hizbullah member but the case was closed.

Military Court Judge Sami Sader began on Monday handing over the bodies of Beirut's southern suburbs Ruwais neighborhood blast victims to their relatives.

According to the state-run National news agency, thirteen identified bodies have been handed over so far, in addition to the body of a Syrian worker.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters, hand over its weapons to the state, become part of the Lebanese fold, and limit its losses, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday.

He told the daily: “I hope President Michel Suleiman and Primer Minister-designate Tammam Salam will assume their responsibilities until the very end because the fate of the state depends on what they do.”

Special Tribunal for Lebanon President Judge Sir David Baragwanath and Vice-President Judge Ralph Riachy have been re-elected for a period of 18 months, the STL announced on Friday.

The judges of the Appeals Chamber, who met on Thursday, re-elected both Baragwanath of New Zealand and Lebanese judge Riachy, for the same time period starting September 1, said the statement.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat lamented on Saturday the rise of extremism in Lebanon at the expense of moderation, stressing the need to combat it through backing the state and the army.

He said in a statement: “The recent developments demonstrate that the spread of arms cannot be tackled through more arms … but through the return to dialogue.”

Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora slammed on Wednesday Hizbullah's fighting in Syria alongside regime forces, saying that those seeking to avert the repercussions of the crisis should not send their youth to fight in the country.

He therefore urged President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, and all political leaders and MPs to realize the dangers facing Lebanon.

The U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced Monday it will appoint a special investigator to probe “three incidents which could potentially be considered interference with the administration of justice through publication of alleged witness identities.”

STL President Judge David Baragwanath, acting as the Contempt Judge for the month of April, took the decision on Monday to have an amicus curiae (friend of the court) appointed by the Registrar, with the Judge’s approval, to further investigate these three incidents.

The trial at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination case will start next autumn, informed sources told An Nahar daily published Friday.

The sources hinted that both the prosecution and the defense have completed the preparations for the start of trial.

General prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi denied on Tuesday that his office was behind the leaked information on the alleged witnesses in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination case.

A statement released by his press office said Madi told visiting STL President Judge David Baragwanath and his accompanying delegation that “his bureau was not responsible for the leaked information because it was not in its possession.”