Ziad Baroud
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Fears that Illegal Construction Boom was Politically Motivated

Several lawmakers have prepared a detailed report on illegal constructions on state property that stresses the wave intensified a month ago, hinting that it was backed by some political parties, An Nahar daily said Tuesday.

The report according to An Nahar also stresses that illegal construction was “intentional” and some parties had “incited” violators into more “disobedience.”

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Jumblat Calls for Keeping Construction Violations File Away from Political Disputes

A security official revealed to As Safir newspaper on Saturday that the public property construction violations exceed 4,000 plots throughout southern Lebanon, adding that they are far too numerous for the security forces and army to handle.

The newspaper added that the security forces will suffice with recording violations instead of thwarting them.

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Hizb ut-Tahrir’s Anti-Syrian Regime Demonstration in Tripoli Ends without Incident

Hizb ut-Tahrir’s demonstration in support of the Syrian protests ended on Friday without any security incident being reported.

The demonstration, which defied a ban by Lebanese authorities, began after Friday Muslim prayers in front of al-Mansouri mosque in Tripoli and marched towards the Nijmeh square in the northern port city amid heavy security presence.

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Center House Security Meeting Agrees on Firm Implementation of Tripoli Demos Ban

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday headed a security meeting at the Center House in downtown Beirut to discuss the latest security developments in the country.

The meeting tackled “the issue of Tripoli’s demos, the incident that happened in Tyre when security forces tried to remove illegal construction violations, the issue of the kidnap of the seven Estonian citizens and the measures taken by the army and the Internal Security Forces to preserve security and stability,” Hariri’s press office said in a statement.

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North Security Council Rejects Requests to Stage Pro- and Anti-Syrian Regime Protests in Tripoli

The security council of the North announced on Wednesday that it had rejected all requests to stage demonstrations in Tripoli, including Hizb ut-Tahriri’s anti-Syrian regime protest.

It explained that the requests did not meet legal conditions and they would have taken place when Christians in Lebanon would be celebrating Good Friday.

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Baroud: Everyone Has Right to Ask for Interior Portfolio, But Not at Expense of Those Who Worked Hard

Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Tuesday noted that the "obstacle hindering the cabinet formation process is not over the interior ministry portfolio," adding that "everyone has the right to demand the interior ministry portfolio," but not at the expense of people who have worked hard in the ministry's service.

Speaking to reporters after an urgent meeting for the country's Central Security Council, Baroud stressed that his ministry's employees should not be attacked. "We have a team that has worked hard in the interior ministry and it should not be treated in this manner," said Baroud.

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Suleiman Reiterates to Assad that Lebanon Supports Syria’s Stability

President Michel Suleiman telephoned his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad on Monday to stress to him that Lebanon supports stability and security in Syria, a Baabda palace statement said.

Suleiman “discussed with him (Assad) the latest developments, bilateral ties and the reforms that President Assad had announced,” the statement said.

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Al-Rahi Returns from Rome, Calls for Speeding up Government Formation

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi returned to Lebanon from Italy on Saturday where he met with Pope Benedict XVI.

He stated from the airport upon his return: “The country can no longer endure the paralysis of its institutions.”

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Government Formation Back to Square One, Al-Rahi Suggests Issuing Call to Speed up Formation

Hopes that a new government will be formed soon have disappeared in light of the recent contacts and meetings regarding the formation, reported the daily An Nahar Friday.

It appears that matters have returned to square one, especially given the fragile trust between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

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Illegal Construction Booming in the South but Baroud Says No Cover-up for the Corrupt

Hundreds of violations in illegal construction on state property have been recorded in southern Lebanon, As Safir daily reported Wednesday warning that the phenomenon could spread if security forces do not put an end to it.

More than 500 violations have been made in the south, particularly in the towns of Adloun, Sarafand, al-Bisariyeh, al-Zrariyeh and al-Saksakiyeh, the newspaper quoted a security source as saying.

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