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WikiLeaks: Suleiman Asserted that Army Will Not Interfere in July War

The Lebanese army will not intervene in the July 2006 war, announced then Army Commander General Michel Suleiman, revealed a leaked U.S. Embassy cable published by OTV.

The WikiLeaks cable dated July 18 reported on a meeting with then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey and then French Ambassador to Lebanon Bernard Emie.

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Geagea: Abduction of Estonians Will Lead to Erosion of the State

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea condemned on Friday the abduction of the seven Estonian tourists earlier this week saying that it “tarnishes Lebanon’s image and it will gradually erode the state’s authority.”

Addressing the inauguration of Beshara al-Rahi as the new Maronite Patriarch, he stated that former Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir witnessed the end of Syria’s hegemony over Lebanon, as well as the end of the Lebanese civil war.

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No New Information on Abducted Estonians, PFLP-GC Denies Involvement in Kidnapping

Army intelligence and the Lebanese army are still conducting searches and sweeps of the area of the Bekaa where seven Estonian tourists were kidnapped earlier this week.

The National News Agency reported on Friday that a Lebanese citizen was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the crime.

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Bahrain Protests to Lebanon over ‘Terrorist Threats’: Could Raise this Issue before International Powers

Bahrain has filed an official complaint to the Lebanese government over Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s recent statements last week on the protests in the Gulf state.

Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa stated that his country won’t be lenient with the threats of a “terrorist organization.”

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Hout Informs Berri of Evacuation of Lebanese from Abidjan: Every Flight Incurs 50,000 Dollars in Losses

Middle East Airlines Chairman Mohammed al-Hout held talks on Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri during which he informed him on the company’s situation in light of the country’s political circumstances, as well as the efforts to evacuate Lebanese expatriates from the Ivory Coast.

“Improvement on the internal scene in Lebanon will positively affect the tourism sector,” Hout said.

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Hariri Meets Saudi Ambassador: They Tried to Eliminate Us Politically

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri discussed with the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri the latest developments and bilateral ties.

Hariri met Assiri late on Friday at the Center House, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

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Canada Grants Additional 1 Million Dollars to STL

Canada is granting an additional 1 million dollars to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, announced Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Saturday.

The total of Canadian contributions to the STL reached 3.7 million dollars, the daily remarked.

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Assad Throws Ball in Lebanon’s Court: Aoun’s Conditions End Optimism Surrounding Cabinet Formation

The wave of optimism surrounding the formation of the Lebanese government has diminished after Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun renewed his demands over the distribution of portfolios.

The pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat reported on Saturday that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh’s recent visits to Syria where they met Syrian President Bashar Assad presented a “strong push towards forming the government.”

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Al-Rahi: Sfeir Struggled against Occupation, Hegemony, Lebanon Monopolization by a Group is Scorn against Us All

A ceremony to inaugurate Beshara al-Rahi as the 77th patriarch of the Maronite church was held Friday in Bkriki, in the presence of the country's top leaders and Arab and Western envoys.

President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker premier Saad Hariri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati participated in the ceremony.

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Analysis: Syria Unrest has Wide Ramifications in Lebanon

Lebanon, which for nearly 30 years endured Syria's military and political hegemony, is closely eyeing developments in Damascus which will undoubtedly have ramifications on the local scene, analysts say.

"Any change in Syria will have a huge impact on the balance of power in Lebanon," said political analyst Raghid al-Solh, an expert on the Arab world.

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