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Hariri Controls Timing of his Return

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has no intention to return to Lebanon any time soon, where political and security issues force him to remain abroad, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Wednesday.

“He controls the timing of his return (to Beirut),” al-Mustaqbal movement sources told the newspaper.

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Egypt for Participation of All Parties in Lebanese Decision-Making

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr stressed Cairo’s keenness on political stability in Lebanon and called for the participation of all political parties in Lebanese decision-making.

Following talks with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday, Amr said that “the only way to achieve stability is to guarantee the participation of all political players in the governing structure in Lebanon based on their real representation.”

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Miqati: STL to Decide if What We Did is Right

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Wednesday the relevant authorities in Lebanon did their best in their attempt to arrest the four suspects named in the indictment issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

“The relevant authorities have been looking for the various people on a daily basis,” Miqati told Newsweek U.S. weekly news magazine.

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Interior Minister Exonerates Hizbullah

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that Hizbullah was not involved in the bombing that shook Antelias last week and slammed the opposition for criticizing his statements on the blast.

“Hizbullah is innocent and has nothing to do with the bombing,” Charbel told al-Liwaa daily in remarks published Wednesday.

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Abbas to Suleiman: We Don't Need Arms, Lebanon Can Protect Us

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed Tuesday that “the Palestinians are under the Lebanese law and we don’t need all the weapons, as we are under the protection of the Lebanese people, president, government and parliament.”

Abbas arrived Tuesday in Beirut for a 2-day visit during which he will hold talks with top Lebanese officials, inspect the living conditions of Palestinian refugees and seek Lebanon’s support for the Palestinian bid for U.N. membership.

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Qortbawi: We are Seeking Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Prison File in Lebanon

Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi stressed on Tuesday that a comprehensive plan to tackle the prison file in Lebanon is necessary in order to resolve pending issues in this matter.

He said: “The current situation must not continue.”

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Mustaqbal Slams Qassem Remarks as 'Desperate, Futile'

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday described the latest remarks by Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem as “a desperate, futile attempt at accusing others of” his party’s own deeds.

Qassem accused Sunday the Mustaqbal movement of being a “militia,” saying that it does not want to recognize Lebanon as a country of diverse sects.

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Hariri: Iran’s Position on STL Aimed at Preventing Justice

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned on Tuesday Iran’s position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, noting that it is “exactly” like Hizbullah’s.

He said in a statement: “The Iranian position is an integral part of a policy aimed at limiting the STL’s work and preventing justice from being achieved.”

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Aoun to his Allies: We Won’t Remain in Govt. that Lacks an Agenda

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Tuesday that he is committed to serving Lebanon, but “we will not remain in a government that lacks an agenda.”

He said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “They can make do without us as we have other issues, such as the Resistance, that we are committed to.”

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Democratic Renewal Movement: We Will Not Remain Neutral over Current Challenges

The head of the Democratic Renewal Movement form MP Nassib Lahoud stressed on Tuesday the movement’s objectivity towards various political powers in Lebanon, saying that it will not take sides with the March 8 or 14 camps.

He added however that it will “not maintain a neutral position on the current challenges” facing Lebanon.

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