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Qassem Narrows Down STL’s Role as Assault on Lebanon: March 14 Opposition Aimed at Creating Chaos

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Thursday that the new majority in Lebanon did not prevent the March 14 camp from taking part in the new government.

He said: “We called for partnership from the start and we did not alter this position, but what is left of the March 14 camp rejected this partnership … They eliminated themselves from the new government and they have to assume the responsibility of their choice and not hold the new majority accountable for it.”

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HRW Fears Lebanon May be ‘Doing Syria's Dirty Job of Shutting up its Critics’

A rights group on Thursday urged Lebanese authorities to probe the disappearance of three Syrian brothers, one of whom was detained while distributing flyers calling for democratic change in Syria.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Jassem Merhi Jassem was picked up by military intelligence agents in Beirut along with five other members of his family on February 23 and 24 after they were seen handing out the flyers.

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Tumult Over Wissam Hassan’s Alleged Meeting with Zuheir Siddiq in Egypt

Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud has asked Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi to take “suitable measures” with regard to the travel of Intelligence Bureau chief Col. Wissam Hassan to Egypt.

Baroud told Rifi on Wednesday that such measures would clarify the extent to which various regulations were being respected.

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Hariri Wants a Country that Doesn’t Diffrentiate between the Lebanese

Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri has said that the March 14 forces want a country “that does not differentiate between the Lebanese.”

During a meeting with delegations from the "Future Youth", “Future Women” and Beirut families at Center House, Hariri described the current phase as difficult and complex, but expressed hope to overcome it with the cooperation and support of the Lebanese.

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Baroud: Case of Missing Syrians is Now in the Hands of the Judiciary

Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud has said that the judiciary was now in charge of handling the case of three Syrians reportedly abducted in Lebanon.

“The case is currently under the jurisdiction of the prosecutor general, and the probe is led by the military judiciary,” Baroud said in a statement released on Wednesday.

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Report: U.S. Scolded Salameh Over Alleged Transfer of Billions from Syria to Lebanon

U.S. officials have reportedly chided Central Bank governor Riyad Salameh for helping Syria escape U.S. sanctions five years ago by transferring billions of dollars to Lebanon.

Al-Akhbar daily said Thursday that the officials told Salameh during his visit to Washington last week that the Central Bank’s move led to a cover up to illegitimate operations carried out by several Lebanese banks, including alleged money laundering.

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March 14 Document: A Roadmap to Put Hizbullah Arms Under State Legitimacy

March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid said a political document that will be issued by the coalition on Thursday stresses the need to put Hizbullah’s arms under the control of legitimate state institutions.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio station, Soaid said the document also says that Hizbullah cannot coexist with citizens who abide by rules and regulations.

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Hannibal Gadhafi’s Lebanese Wife is Still in Libya, Brother Says

Aline Skaff, the Lebanese wife of Hannibal Gadhafi, is still in Libya and hasn’t attempted to flee the strife-torn country, her brother Danny told An Nahar newspaper.

“Aline last visited Beirut on New Year,” Danny Skaff said. “She comes to Lebanon at least twice or three times a year and spends around two months” here.

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March 14 Campaign Against Arms Expected to Push for Quick Cabinet Formation

The March 14 alliance’s campaign against Hizbullah’s arms is expected to push for the quick formation of the new government, An Nahar newspaper reported Thursday.

The daily quoted Speaker Nabih Berri’s advisor MP Ali Hassan Khalil as saying that “the appropriate answer to the slogans launched by the March 14 team is to speed up the government formation process.”

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Aoun after Meeting Sfeir: Arms Won’t Last Forever, Strength Lies in Endurance of Institutions Such as Bkirki

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stated on Wednesday that weapons possession outside the authority of the state is not “eternal.”

He made his statements after holding talks with outgoing Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir two hours before the Synod of Maronite Bishops’ retreat to elect his successor.

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