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U.N. Request to Fund STL to be Referred to Justice Ministry

A letter sent by the U.N. to Lebanon asking it to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will be referred to the justice ministry to put the country’s financial obligations to the court in the draft state budget in cooperation with the finance ministry, An Nahar daily reported Sunday.

The newspaper said that the premiership will refer the letter to the justice ministry in accordance with the protocol signed between the Lebanese government and the STL.

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Riots Erupt at Amyoun Prison after Attempt to Smuggle Drugs

Two inmates at Amyoun prison in Koura began a riot on Saturday after security forces detained the mother of one of them for trying to smuggle drugs into the jail, the National News Agency reported.

Inmates Yehya al-Ayoubi and Haitham Allaw locked their cell from the inside and threatened to harm prisoners protesting on detaining the mother of Allaw.

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Gemayel Says Syrian Infiltration into Border Towns Unacceptable

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stressed on Saturday that his party’s position on the Syrian infiltration into the Lebanese territories in the eastern Bekaa valley is a matter of principle.

“Sovereignty can’t be divided, it’s either complete or doesn’t exist, especially if a non-Lebanese army enters the Lebanese border and assault peoples’ privacy,” Gemayel said.

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Miqati Says Cabinet Not against Improving Wages

Prime Minister Najib Miqati said on Saturday that no one is against improving wages, but several issues must be taken into consideration before carrying out this demand.

“No one is against improving wages, however, we should take into consideration the consequences that might be behind this raise like inflation, unemployment and the state treasury,” Miqati said after meeting with speaker Nabih Berri.

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Raad: Global Powers Seeking to Employ Arab Spring for Own Goals

The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad warned on Saturday that the Arab Spring may become victim to attempts by world powers to employ the movement for their own interests.

He said during a student graduation ceremony: “Some local or regional forces are eager to join these attempts than the actual powers themselves.”

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Roux: Bellemare, Fransen, Defense Team to Meet Soon to Asses Proceedings

The head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Defense Office Francois Roux revealed that Prosecutor Judge Daniel Bellemare, Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen, and the Defense team will convene soon to assess proceedings of the tribunal.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that in absentia trials are much more difficult for the Defense, explaining that it requires time to evaluate the Prosecution’s file.

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Ghosn: Govt. Should Tackle Wage Issue as Talks with Economic Bodies is Futile

The head of the General Labor Confederation Ghassan Ghosn described as “good” his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Friday.

He told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday: “We discussed figures on inflation and we set our demands.”

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Russia to Thwart U.N. Sanctions on Lebanon Should it Fail to Fund STL

Russia will likely veto any United Nations Security Council action against Lebanon should it fail to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, reported the daily al-Liwaa on Saturday.

An informed source told the daily that Syrian and Iranian circles view Russia and China’s veto of a U.N. resolution against Syria’s deadly crackdown on protests earlier this week as a turning point in relations between them.

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Qahwaji Heads to U.S., to Request Weapons for Army

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji is expected to travel to the United States on Monday where he is scheduled to hold talks with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

A prominent military source told the daily that the visit is aimed at “requesting military support for the Lebanese army, as well as providing it with weapons and logistic equipment.”

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France: We are Very Worried about Safety of Syrians in Lebanon

The French Foreign Minister voiced on Friday its “deep concern” over the safety of Syrians in Lebanon in light of reports that the Syrian army had infiltrated Lebanese territory on Thursday where it killed a Syrian national living near the border.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stressed during a press conference that France is committed to an independent, sovereign, and secure Lebanon.

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