Spotlight
- Lebanon France's Le Drian in Lebanon to help unlock yearslong political stalemate France’s special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, met Wednesday in Beirut with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as he visits Lebanon in an attem...
- Lebanon Reports: Opposition to endorse Aoun from Maarab as Saudi envoy pushes for his election The opposition will hold a meeting in Maarab at 7:00 pm to announce support for Army chief Joseph Aoun’s presidential nomination, media reports s...
- Lebanon Lebanon set for yet another attempt at electing president Lebanese lawmakers are due to meet on Thursday to elect a president, but analysts say that even with key political player Hezbollah weakened by war...
Semi-official sources revealed to the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper on Saturday that President Michel Suleiman and the Syrian leadership are conducting daily consultations over various developments.
The sources did not rule out the possibility of holding a Lebanese-Syrian summit in Damascus ahead of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to Lebanon next week.
Full StoryU.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffery Feltman is expected to head to Riyadh and Cairo next week to hold a series of meetings with Saudi and Egyptian officials that will primarily tackle developments in Lebanon, reported As Safir on Saturday.
The talks will also address Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts and attempts to form an Iraqi government.
Full StoryA Beirut-bound Tunisian plane was diverted to the Damascus International Airport on Friday due to the thunderstorm lashing Lebanon.
However, the flight control tower at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport stressed that the rainy weather has not affected other inbound or outbound flights.
Full StoryHizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem on Friday called on the March 14 forces to "add to political accusation the accusation of Israel … to at least prove that we're all in Lebanon the enemies of Israel."
Qassem said that political accusation "only needs a podium and a statement," noting that "accusing Israel at least gives a positive sign that they (March 14 forces) want to reach the truth."
Full StoryU.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly stressed Friday the United States' commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty and independence and the importance of strong and effective institutions.
She said after holding talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Center House that the United States is worried about any action that may destabilize Lebanon and its sovereignty.
Full StoryMaronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Friday said false witnesses in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri must be held accountable.
"I know nothing about false witnesses, but any false witness should be held accountable," Sfeir told reporters at Beirut Airport before heading for Rome where he will take part in the Middle East Synod.
Full StoryFormer head of Lebanon's General Security Department Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed offered a three-way solution to the false witnesses' issue:
1- To grant the Judicial Council authority over the case.
Full StoryLebanon, Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji announced.
He said the "military-security plan" covers, apart from Beirut, sensitive points in the north, the Bekaa and Sidon as well as the Beirut-Sidon coastline.
Full StoryPresident Michel Suleiman has formed something like a crisis cell to seek "necessary legal and political" exits to the current crisis over the International Tribunal indictment which is set to accuse Hizbullah in the 2005 assassination of former PM-Rafik Hariri.
As-Safir newspaper, which carried the report, said Friday that several proposals were being considered, in addition to almost daily consultation between Suleiman and Syria.
Full StoryOnly the Lebanese can protect their country through achieving a national, brotherly, comprehensive and honest reconciliation that would allow them to solve all issues, achieve justice, solidify stability, turn the page on the past and provide a new hope for the new generation, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri said Thursday after meeting Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh in Bnashii.
"This is what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes Lebanon," he added.
Full Story