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Sami Gemayel Files Complaint against Raad: He Violated Parliament, Attributing Positions to it that it Didn’t Make

Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel filed a complaint against the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad over his latest press conference from parliament during which a poster supporting the March 8 camp’s positions was displayed behind him.

The complaint was filed to Speaker Nabih Berri on the basis that the “poster tarnished parliament’s image by attributing positions to it that it did not make.”

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Lebanon Battered by Storm

A snowstorm lashed Lebanon on Wednesday as high winds reached 85 kilometers per hour and heavy rains drenched the Lebanese coast causing bumper-to-bumper traffic in several areas.

The Meteorology Department said the snowfall at 1000 meters could reach 800 meters above sea level on Thursday. Temperatures reached 6 degrees on the coast and below zero on mountain tops.

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Al-Mustaqbal Accuses Aoun of Being a ‘Political Adolescent’

Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Ammar Houri described Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun as a “political adolescent” who doesn’t know what to say.

“Every time we hoped that Gen. Aoun would reach political maturity, we got surprised that he was still in (the stage) of political adolescence and did not pay attention to what he was saying is most cases,” Houri told An Nahar daily in remarks published Wednesday.

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Jumblat: No Ties Bind Me with Rafik Hariri Except his Memory

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat criticized the March 14 camp’s conduct, accusing it of increasing the dangerous internal divide in Lebanon that “is targeting an entire sect.”

He said in an interview with al-Akhbar published on Wednesday: “Failure to form a government is an escalatory measure by the March 14 forces ahead of the March 13 rally without it actually having a key to end the crisis.”

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Miqati’s Circles Deny PM-Designate Under International Pressure

Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s circles denied that the international community was pressuring the billionaire businessman, saying ambassadors meeting with him are only hoping that he would form a balanced cabinet that would preserve stability in Lebanon.

Miqati asked the diplomats, including U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly, to judge him only after the formation of the government, the circles said.

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Sfeir Describes as Abnormal Presence of Arms Outside State Control

Outgoing Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir reiterated that only Lebanon’s armed forces should carry weapons and described as abnormal the presence of arms in the people’s hands.

In remarks to al-Joumhouriah newspaper published Wednesday, Sfeir said: “We either have a state or we don't. Only the state should own weapons.”

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Williams Warns of Dangers that Could Result from Political Vacuum

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stressed the importance of forming the cabinet to confront several challenges including the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s upcoming indictment.

In an interview published in As Safir newspaper Wednesday, Williams warned of the dangers of a power vacuum if the formation of the cabinet takes more time.

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Maronite Bishops Go Behind Closed Doors to Elect 77th Patriarch

The Synod of Maronite Bishops goes into retreat on Wednesday to elect the 77th church leader after Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

Bkirki’s doors will close at 6:00 pm. The bishops will pray and hear lectures until Friday when the actual electoral process begins.

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Geagea Expects Cedar Revolution II on Sunday: Syria Partner in Coup against Hariri Govt

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday said he believes that there will be “another Cedar Revolution” in Lebanon on Sunday as “the first one did not achieve its objectives.”

In an interview on Future News television, Geagea also said he was convinced that “we can’t advance in any field with the presence of Hizbullah’s arms.”

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Hariri Against Army-People-Resistance Equation if Turned into 'Tool' in Hizbullah's Hands

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Tuesday that "there is no alternative to the State and its institutions."

"We shall struggle with all our strength for the success of the project of the State whatever the challenges and difficulties might be because there is no alternative to the State and its institutions, and we will spare no effort in this regard," Hariri said during a meeting at the Center House with Mustaqbal Movement delegations and Beiruti families.

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