President Michel Suleiman hailed on Monday the “great efforts” exerted by the army and security forces in obstructing the criminal plans of extremists against Lebanon.

He urged “the military and security forces to remain on high alert to thwart attempts to create strife.”

President Michel Suleiman said on Saturday that he understood the reasons why the Phalange Party expressed its reservation over the resistance clause in the newly-drafted government policy statement.

He said: “The party's reservation stems from its keenness on the state.”

President Michel Suleiman stressed that he will call for the resumption of the national dialogue after the government earns parliament's vote of confidence, while emphasizing the importance of the Baabda Declaration in protecting Lebanon, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Saturday.

He told the daily: “Adhering to the Declaration is key to resolving disputes in Lebanon.”

Syrian President Bashar Assad voiced hope on Friday that the next Lebanese president would support the resistance axis, considering that his country and Hizbullah are united and share the same fate.

“We are interested in the opinions of the upcoming Lebanese president and to what he could offer the axis of the resistance, which is the basic criterion for us,” Assad was quoted as saying by his visitors.

The Lebanese Forces formed a 12-member committee to draft a detailed presidential election program to prepare the candidacy of its leader Samir Geagea as he is threatening to withdraw from the March 14 alliance over the policy statement row.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday that the 12-member committee comprises experts in various fields.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is eager to hold a cabinet session on Friday before a rally organized by the March 14 alliance in the afternoon to avoid a further crisis on the policy statement.

According to As Safir, Salam had expressed fears that the rally, which will be held in BIEL on the anniversary of the Cedar Revolution, would complicate the row on the resistance clause of the policy statement.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said a proposal made by him could salvage the government, hoping that Premier Tammam Salam would not resign before Monday.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Friday, Berri said: “If there were good intentions and readiness to reach a settlement, then this proposal should be accepted by the March 14” camp.

President Michel Suleiman said on Friday that Hizbullah's involvement in battles in Syria weakened it, stressing that any endeavors to extend his tenure don't serve the national interest.

“The March 8 and 14 alliances have erred against me and they have both played with the nerves of the Lebanese people,” Suleiman said in an interview with the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper to be published tomorrow.

The cabinet on Thursday adjourned its discussions until Friday after the parties failed to reach an agreement over the policy statement following a six-hour meeting at the Baabda Palace and intensive consultations inside and outside the session.

Bilateral meetings between ministers were held on the sidelines of the session in a bid to reach a consensual formula for the policy statement and prevent a looming resignation by Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

Visiting Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Thursday that his country was keen on supporting Lebanon to confront the crisis of the Syrian refugees.

“No state has ever confronted what Lebanon is facing,” Niinisto said during a joint conference with his Lebanese counterpart at Baabda Palace.