Lebanon
Latest stories
With March 14 Out: A Hizbullah-Technocrats-Centrists Cabinet to be Announced Soon

Lebanon will soon have a government -- most likely to be made up of 24 ministers that include members of the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp as well as technocrats and centrists.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati met late Tuesday with President Michel Suleiman in hopes for a quick announcement of a Cabinet lineup.

W140 Full Story
Report: Egypt’s Hizbullah Cell Hasn’t Yet Returned to Lebanon

The members of the so-called Hizbullah cell that have escaped during a mass prison breakout are most probably still in Egypt, Hizbullah circles told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Wednesday.

“All we can say is that the members of the cell and (its leader) Sami Shehab are doing well,” they said, adding they believed that the network’s members were still in Egyptian territories “or else the party would have made an official statement and welcomed them in a proper way.”

W140 Full Story
Britain: Scale of Any Possible Israel-Hizbullah Conflict is Growing

British Foreign Secretary William Hague voiced concern over possible conflict between Israel and Hizbullah following last month's collapse of the Lebanese government.

"The scale of any military conflict that may happen between Israel and Hizbullah is growing, because of the growth of armaments in the area," Hague told the London Times in comments published Wednesday.

W140 Full Story
Russia Calls for Security Council Mission to Middle East, Including Lebanon

Russia on Tuesday called for the U.N. Security Council to carry out a mission to the Middle East, including Lebanon and Egypt.

The Security Council has not visited the troubled region for more than three decades. Russia's U.N. ambassador Vitaly Churkin said council envoys should go to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.

Full Story
Connelly Meets Geagea, Gemayel, Harb: Truly Representative Govt Would Not Abandon STL

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Tuesday discussed the recent political developments in the country in separate meetings with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and caretaker Labor Minister Boutros Harb.

"Ambassador Connelly reiterated that the U.S. views the formation of a new Lebanese government as an exclusively Lebanese process that should remain free from outside interference," said a communiqué released by the U.S. Embassy following Connelly's talks with Geagea.

W140 Full Story
Mustaqbal Says Still Awaiting 'Clear Answers' from Miqati

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for "joining efforts so that Lebanon can continue to be a country that is adhered to its democratic political system in the face of pressures seeking to turn it into a totalitarian (country) controlled by (foreign) hegemony."

In a communiqué issued after its weekly meeting, the bloc condemned "the return to the rhetoric of weapons … rigged elections and stolen (parliamentary) representation," stressing the importance of "pressing forward towards the rise of the State."

W140 Full Story
Barak to Inform Ban on Wednesday of Israel’s Decision to Suspend Withdrawal from Ghajar

Israel is planning to inform the United Nations on Wednesday of its decision to suspend its withdrawal from the northern section of the village of Ghajar.

It attributed the suspension to the crisis in Lebanon and the possibility of Hizbullah bolstering its presence in the new Lebanese government, reported Israel radio.

W140 Full Story
Williams after Meeting Miqati Hopes New Cabinet Would Enjoy All Sides' Approval

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams voiced his support on Tuesday for Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati in his mission to form a new government, praising his openness to all political parties in Lebanon.

He added a hope after holding talks with Miqati that the new government would enjoy the approval of all Lebanese sides and that it would respect international resolutions, especially U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

W140 Full Story
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Participation of All Parties Guarantees Success of Lebanese Government

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stated on Tuesday that developments in Lebanon are taking place on the democratic path, hoping that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati would succeed in forming a “strong government that includes all Lebanese parties.”

He said during a press conference that Lebanon is on the course of development and progress, noting that it is in the interest of all movements to take part in cabinet “to ensure its success.”

W140 Full Story
Geagea Warns: We Won’t Let March 8 Control Lebanon

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday warned the Hizbullah-led March 8 coalition against wresting its control over Lebanon.

“We won’t let them control the country and wreak havoc and devastation as happened previously,” Geagea said.

W140 Full Story