Several Lebanese figures are targets of possible assassinations, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday.

A widely informed western diplomatic source told the daily that at least 18 Lebanese officials are being monitored, urging them to take the greatest precautions to protect themselves.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed that investigations into the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan is making “speedy progress”, revealing that they have reaching important information in the case, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Tuesday.

Security information revealed that the owner of the stolen car that was booby-trapped in the bombing that killed Hasan on Friday has been identified.

Colonel Imad Othman succeeded Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan as the head of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau.

Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi appointed on Sunday night Othman after tackling the matter with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi stated that ISF Intelligence Bureau head Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan's assassination on Friday is a loss for Lebanon and the ISF, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily: “The murder will not deter us from performing our duties, regardless of the sacrifices.”

All officer recruits, who recently applied to the position, passed the psychiatric exam despite rumors over a manipulation of the results of the exam, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to the report, a settlement was reached over the matter where all the recruits passed the first round of the exam instead of it being canceled.

Former General Security chief Jamil al-Sayyed slammed on Tuesday the investigations with former minister Michel Samaha, saying that he should not be interrogated by his “enemies”.

He said during a press conference: “Samaha asserted that I was not involved in any detail linked to the case.”

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel hailed on Monday the efforts exerted by Internal Security Chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and head of the Information Branch Col. Wissam al-Hassan for averting a plot targeting Lebanon, warning against any attempt to politicize the investigations over the issue.

“It is a humanitarian achievement that saved the lives of innocent people,” Gemayel told reporters during a press conference at his residence in Bikfaya.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Saturday that the current government’s main achievement” is its commitment to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

He declared during a Ramadan iftar in the Shouf region: “The obscure army, people, and resistance slogan can no longer persist at the expense of the state, army, security, and economy.”

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi praised the intelligence branch for exposing the terrorist plot that was targeting the country, describing it as its “masterpiece.”

“The efforts exerted (by the intelligence branch) exposed a terrorist plot aiming at carrying out assassination in the north,” Rifi said in a statement.

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Saturday Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and the head of Police Intelligence, Col. Wissam al-Hassan, for “warding off the danger threatening Lebanon.”

His comment came during talks with Rifi and al-Hassan at Beiteddine palace.