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ISF Seizes Documents, PCs from ‘Muslims Without Borders’ in Bekaa

The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch has seized documents and computers from the offices of “Muslims Without Borders” near the town of al-Marj in the Central Bekaa.

The raid took place on Thursday afternoon after the ISF summoned several activists from the movement at the Intelligence Bureau headquarters in Beirut.

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March 8 Forces are Highly Optimistic but Miqati Denies Deal

Premier-designate Najib Miqati has denied reports that a deal was reached to end the cabinet deadlock, saying he was still waiting for parliamentary blocs to provide him with the names of their candidates for the government seats.

“I haven’t been informed about anything,” Miqati told al-Akhbar daily in remarks published Friday.

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Bite and Run! Protestor Bites Policeman in Ouzai

A protestor bit a policeman in his hand as he was seeking to end a building violation in the Ouzai district of Beirut’s southern suburbs, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

The “bite-and-run” incident took place as a police force was seeking to demolish a building as part of their crackdown on illegal construction.

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MEA Plane Witnesses Mutiny on Flight Bound to Beirut

A Middle East Airlines plane with 231 passengers aboard bound to Beirut from Heathrow airport witnessed trouble last week, reported UK’s Daily Mail.

Trouble erupted after the plane had to abort a 5:00 pm take-off on Thursday, having already missed its original 1:00 pm departure slot.

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Pro, Anti-Assad Demonstrators Stage Rival Rallies in Hamra

Dozens of supporters of Syria's Bashar al-Assad gathered in Beirut Monday to express support for the embattled president, drowning out a nearby vigil in memory of those killed in two months of unrest.

"God, Syria, Bashar" and "Sarkozy, Obama, you brutes, you will never enter Syria," chanted some 50 men in the Hamra district of Beirut amid heavy security.

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Anti-confessional Activists Protest Fuel Prices Rise Near Parliament

Anti-confessional regime activists protested the rise in fuel prices and bad living conditions outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut on Thursday.

The protestors blocked the road near Riad al-Solh square for 30 minutes before dispersing.

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2011 Tyre Triathlon: Swim, Bike and Run for Fun... and for a Good Cause

Lebanon is training hard for its third annual Triathlon to be held in the beautiful and ancient town of Tyr next Sunday, 22 May 2011. The event consists of a 750m swim in the sea followed by a 20km bike ride through the city and a 5 km run along the Corniche to the port of Tyr and back.

The race will start at 11.00 sharp on the beach, facing Tyros Restaurant on the Corniche. Over 185 athletes, more than twice as many as last year, will compete as individuals completing all three stages of the triathlon or as teams of three with each individual completing one of the stages. Competitors will be categorized into male and female groups and start times divided into waves for Elite, Amateur and Fun groups. Most of the competitors are Lebanese and foreigners resident in Lebanon but there will also be participants from UK, Columbia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among the elite athletes competing will be Maxime Chaya, Roy Nasr and Anne Petersen from UAE.

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9 People Charged with Assaulting Policemen Over Illegal Construction

Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr on Tuesday charged nine people with assaulting security forces while they were seeking to end building violations in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The National News Agency said that Saqr charged the nine people, including one detainee, for confronting members of the Internal Security Forces and assaulting them while they were seeking to curb building violations in the area of Ouzai.

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Contemporary Dance Blooms in Beirut 'Arab Spring'

Contemporary dancers are finding their feet in the Arab world, as the art form renowned for freedom of expression blossoms at a time of regional upheaval.

"Over the past few years, Arab contemporary dance has been blossoming," said Omar Rajeh, organizer of the just-ended Beirut International Platform of Dance (BIPOD), which hosted over 20 choreographers in the Lebanese capital.

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Building Violations Reach Airport Fence, Baroud and Aridi Warn of ‘Dangerous Consequences’

Building violations on state property have reached dangerous proportions after violations neared the fence of Rafik Hariri international airport, An Nahar newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The daily said that violators had built illegally on state property near the new 16th seaside tarmac of the airport and the old number 17 runway, the daily said, warning that such a move could go all the way towards putting the facility on the international blacklist.

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