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Eyes Turned to Bkirki Meeting Amid Hopes for Future Deliberations Among Christian Factions

All eyes are turned to a meeting between top Christian leaders that is scheduled to be held in Bkirki on Tuesday amid hopes that the talks would expand to include more Christian officials in the future.

The meeting will be held between Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Michel Aoun, and Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh.

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Suleiman Responds to WikiLeaks Cable: Relation with Hizbullah Based on Cooperation

President Michel Suleiman has warned of the information contained in the latest WikiLeaks cables published by Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar "which largely lack accuracy and credibility and are mainly based on conclusions, curtailment and the citation of a third party," the presidency's press office announced Sunday.

"Some of these leaks are part of a systematic campaign aimed at causing divisions and deepening the rift among citizens and political groups," the press office added in a statement.

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No Progress in Government Formation as March 8 Sources Says Cabinet Won’t be Established Soon

Sources close to Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati revealed that a positive atmosphere is accompanying the government formation process.

They told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Sunday: “New ideas were proposed during the meeting held between Speaker Nabih Berri’s advisor MP Ali Hassan Khalil and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s advisor Hussein Khalil.”

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Hizbullah Presented All it Can to Facilitate Government Formation, Including Advocating Miqati’s Support to STL

Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah helped facilitate Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s mission to form a new government by refraining from setting any conditions on the process, revealed Hizbullah circles to the Kuwaiti al-Rai on Sunday.

They explained that Nasrallah had informed Miqati in their last meeting that he is free to support and even finance the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and choose whichever ministerial portfolios he wants to grant the party.

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Jumblat Tries to Mend Bridges with March 14 Camp by Dining with Saniora

The daily An Nahar revealed on Sunday that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and the head of the Mustaqbal bloc Fouad Saniora met over dinner at a mutual friend’s house a few says ago.

It added that members of Jumblat’s National Struggle Front were also present.

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Al-Rahi Returns from Rome, Calls for Speeding up Government Formation

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi returned to Lebanon from Italy on Saturday where he met with Pope Benedict XVI.

He stated from the airport upon his return: “The country can no longer endure the paralysis of its institutions.”

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Berri Telephones Ahmadinejad: Government Formation Moving at Turtle Pace

Speaker Nabih Berri stated that the government formation in Lebanon is moving at “turtle pace”, noting however that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s recent statements from Baabda are a positive sign that it will be established soon.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Sunday: “We hope the new government will live up to the Lebanese people’s expectations.”

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Syrian Troops Deploy along Lebanese Border to Combat Smuggling

Syrian troops have deployed along Syria’s border with Lebanon on Saturday in an effort to combat terrorism, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

It added that the Syrian border patrol have intensified their procedures along the Syrian-Lebanese border.

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Roumieh Prisoner Dies of Injuries, Raising Toll of ISF Raid to 3

An inmate died of burn injuries he suffered during the raid of the Internal Security Forces on Roumieh prison last week, one of his family members told Agence France Presse on Saturday.

Nasser Darwish, who hails from the eastern Bekaa town of Brital, died at hospital of severe burn injuries, his brother told AFP.

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UNIFIL Denies it is Involved in Search for Estonians

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon denied on Saturday media reports that peacekeepers had carried out a joint operation with security forces in Rashaya al-Fekhar in search for the kidnapped Estonian tourists.

“UNIFIL does not carry out any operation outside its area of operations that falls south of the Litani river,” UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh said in remarks carried by the state-run National News Agency.

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