President Michel Suleiman called for firm measures against any security breach, noting that the strong political rhetoric is causing political, security, and economic instabilities, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

“The strong political rhetoric and the failure to act responsibly and to abide by the constitution according to the Taif accord are the reasons behind the political, security and economic instabilities,” Suleiman stressed.

Phalange Party Amin Gemayel praised on Saturday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s trip to France, saying that “this is the image of Lebanon we want to promote abroad, not that of infighting.”

He said in a statement: “The Tripoli unrest is linked to external affairs and it has nothing to do with Lebanon.”

Al-Mustaqbal Movement official Mustafa Allouch denied on Saturday that the arms depot that exploded in Abi Samra neighborhood of Tripoli belonged to his party, according to the National News Agency.

“It's not unusual that some sides always try to accuse us of lies,” he said.

Shooting broke out on Friday in the northern city of Tripoli as pro- and anti-Syria gunmen deployed heavily in the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, Agence France Presse reported.

"There is a heavy armed presence and shooting in the Sunni Muslim neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and the Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen," a security official said, requesting anonymity.

Three bombs exploded in Bab al-Tebbaneh region in Tripoli Thursday night marking an increased tension with Jabal Mohsen in the past few days.

“Three bombs exploded in Bab el Tebbaneh” MTV reported.

Libya has ordered Syrian diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours, just days after the main Syrian opposition group took over Damascus's mission in Tripoli, the official news agency reported Thursday.

The Libyan foreign ministry has given "72 hours for the Syrian diplomats to leave the country," the official LANA news agency reported, quoting a ministry statement.

Diehard supporters of slain Moammar Gadhafi might carry out attacks on February 17, the anniversary of the uprising against the former Libyan strongman, Libya's army chief said on Wednesday.

"We should be careful. On February 17 there might be problems from loyalists of Gadhafi," Colonel Youssef al-Mangush told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with the military attaches of foreign embassies in Tripoli.

An Energa-type rifle-launched grenade was fired on Sunday at an area located between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, state-run National News Agency reported.

Only minutes later unidentified assailants tossed a hand grenade at the stream of the nearby Abu Ali River, NNA said.

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil defended on Thursday oil refineries that have been accused of corruption saying they should be rewarded rather than questioned over the red diesel scandal.

In remarks to As Safir daily, Bassil said: “The oil refineries that are being accused of corruption and making illicit gains should be rewarded because they sold red diesel at a total amount that is less than what is allowed for and not more as is being rumored.”

At least one person was killed in an overnight gunbattle between a former prisoner and ex-rebel fighters in the Libyan capital, a hospital official and local residents said on Monday.

"A man was killed and five others were wounded, including one who is now in a coma," an official at Tripoli's central hospital said.