Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati said Thursday that former minister and MP Michel Samaha's arrest was based on a judicial request, National News Agency reported.

The Internal Security Forces' intelligence branch arrested Samaha on Thursday morning "for security reasons," his wife and the acting general prosecutor said. The arrest took place following raids on Samaha's houses in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district and the North Metn town of Jwar al-Khensahara.

"The investigations with Samaha are linked to security issues, not to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," Miqati said, adding that he will later receive a detailed report on the investigation.

Miqati also mentioned the 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims abducted inSyria, accusing the case of being politicized to serve anti- government campaign.

"It seems that the captives are being used for political purposes," the prime minister said without elaborating.

Turkish authorities are helping Lebanon to solve this matter, as "we do not hold any direct contact with the kidnappers," according to Miqati.