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Palestinian factions have taken precautionary measures to prevent the infiltration of Fatah al-Islam militants, who escaped from Roumieh prison over the weekend, into Palestinian camps in the north, the factions said in a statement.
They announced that joint security forces launched patrols at the Beddawi camp and closed all entrances to the shantytown.
Full StoryA delegation of Syrian expatriates in Lebanon headed by Dr. Jamal al-Mohsen on Monday visited the HQ of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in downtown Beirut to deliver a letter addressed to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, state-run National News Agency reported.
“We, the members of the Syrian community in Lebanon, stress our absolute rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Syria’s domestic affairs and our adherence to the leadership of Mr. President Bashar Hafez al-Assad,” the delegation said in the letter.
Full StoryA number of activists describing themselves as “independent intellectuals” on Monday staged a march in Beirut in solidarity with the Syrian people, state-run National News Agency reported.
Shouting slogans in support of the Syrian people, demonstrators marched from Beirut’s Mathaf district towards the government’s headquarters at the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut, amid tight security measures, NNA said.
Full StoryForeign Minister Adnan Mansour denied on Monday media reports that Lebanon had agreed to discuss the maritime border with Israel.
The Israeli Haaretz newspaper had recently reported United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon as saying that Lebanon and Israel agreed to discuss issues of maritime security through a tripartite mechanism and the possible assistance of local experts.
Full StoryHizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem accused on Sunday the Mustaqbal movement of being a militia, saying that it does not want to recognize Lebanon as a country of diverse sects.
He said during an iftar in the city of Baalbek: “The Mustaqbal party has not taken into consideration the situation in Lebanon and it believes that it has the right to monopolize the premiership.”
Full StoryPhalange Party leader Amin Gemayel criticized on Monday the government’s conduct, pointing out the contradictory positions adopted by some of its members and accusing it of neglecting its duties.
He noted Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s announcement of his commitment to international agreements and justice, while other sides declared that no one will be able to apprehend suspects wanted by international law.
Full StoryAmal movement and Hizbullah leaderships in southern Lebanon have stressed on dialogue as the only solution to Lebanon’s problems.
“The Lebanese have the single choice of dialogue to solve their problems,” the two allied parties said in a statement following an Iftar organized by Hizbullah in Nabatiyeh.
Full StoryLebanese politicians seem to be heading towards a new showdown over the issue of proportional representation in the 2013 parliamentary elections after Druze leader Walid Jumblat called for keeping the current electoral system.
During an Iftar held in the Shouf over the weekend, Jumblat said: “It would be better to postpone discussions of proportionality and keep the status quo to preserve diversity and plurality.”
Full StoryThe Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is investigating Iran’s possible involvement in the Feb. 2005 bombing that killed Hariri and 22 others, the German Der Spiegel magazine reported on Monday.
The report said that there is evidence that link Iran with the murder of Hariri.
Full StoryInterior Minister Marwan Charbel said on Monday that the officers and security members in Roumieh prison clearly neglected their duties when five inmates escaped over the weekend.
“This is proved and doesn’t require any investigation,” Charbel told As Safir newspaper.
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