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Mikati, two pro-Aoun ministers attend Arab summit in Algeria

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati will attend today, Tuesday, the 31st Arab League summit in Algeria, as the region battles to find common ground over a series of divisive issues.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad -- both from former President Michel Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement's camp -- accompanied Mikati to Algeria.

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MSF Bar-Elias hospital adapted to care for cholera patients

As part of its "continuous and ongoing efforts to fight the cholera outbreak in Lebanon," Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has adapted its hospital in Bar Elias, in the Bekaa valley, to receive and treat cholera patients with an initial capacity of 20 beds, which can be expanded according to the needs, a statement said.

With the adaptations done, the hospital will continue to function for urgent surgical procedures.

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WHO warns cholera is spreading 'rapidly' across Lebanon

A deadly cholera outbreak is spreading "rapidly" across Lebanon, exacerbated by a prolonged economic crisis and crumbling infrastructure, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday.

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Does Bassil intend to run for presidency?

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil will announce his presidential nomination on Tuesday and will declare “rebellion” against caretaker PM Najib Mikati and the boycott of Speaker Nabih Berri’s dialogue, senior FPM official Naji Hayek said overnight.

Sources following up on Bassil’s political movements meanwhile told Nidaa al-Watan newspaper that he intends to take steps to “pressure” and “embarrass” Hezbollah by telling it, “Either I am your presidential candidate or no one will be.”

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Mikati says boycotting ministers can ask to be relieved of their duties

The five ministers who intend to boycott the caretaker cabinet “can ask to be relieved of their duties,” caretaker PM Najib Mikati has said, amid controversy over the legitimacy of his cabinet in the event of presidential vacuum.

“We would either replace them or acting ministers can take charge of their ministries,” Mikati added, in remarks to al-Jadeed TV, while ruling out that the five ministers would choose to boycott cabinet.

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FPM says still possible to form govt.; Hezbollah won't boycott caretaker cabinet

The country is “headed for disaster amid presidential and governmental vacuum” and “there is still a chance to form a government in the final moments” of President Michel Aoun’s term, Free Patriotic Movement sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Monday.

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Geagea says Hezbollah 'hostage' to Bassil

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has re-accused Hezbollah and its allies of obstructing the election of a new president.

Geagea said that if the opposition MPs were unified, they could have elected a new president. "The other camp can obstruct a session or two but eventually it cannot continue to obstruct the sessions," Geagea said, adding that the LF had named MP Michel Mouawad because the majority of the opposition MPs wanted him, although he had run against the LF in the parliamentary elections.

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Bassil-Rahi presidency dialogue in 'advanced stage'

The dialogue between Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi regarding the presidential election file is in an advanced stage, a media report said on Monday.

Bassil is “giving the ultimate priority to reaching an understanding with the patriarch before any other political party and the two sides might be on the verge of discussing names,” al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.

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Parliament to convene Thursday over Aoun's letter

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called Monday for Parliament to convene on Thursday to discuss a letter sent to parliament by outgoing President Michel Aoun after he signed a decree "accepting the resignation" of the caretaker cabinet.

"The government is considered resigned according to Article 69 of the constitution," Berri told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Monday.

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Report: Presidential vacuum won't be lengthy

All indications suggest that the presidential vacuum “will not be lengthy” amid “strenuous French-Saudi efforts to reach a candidate on which most parliamentary blocs would agree,” opposition sources said.

“The main forces also want a presidential election that would restore regularity in the country to accompany the phase of demarcation and gas extraction,” the sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Monday.

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