Lebanon
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Lebanese Flag Makes World Record

Having breezed through several world records in the culinary field Lebanon has now gone for the big one -- the world's largest national flag, and so huge it needed an airfield.

The Lebanese military on Sunday released a picture taken from the air of the massive flag, stitched in Kuwait, assembled in Lebanon and covering 65,000 square meters (645,600 square feet) "unfurled."

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Oqab Saqr: They Fabricated False Witnesses to Destroy Us

Lebanon First MP Oqab Saqr on Monday accused the Opposition of fabricating false witnesses to "destroy us."

Saqr warned he has "more files that condemn others but we won't disclose them now."

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Siddiq: I'm in a European Country under U.N. Protection

A Syrian agent who allegedly misled a U.N. probe into the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Monday that he is living in a European country under the protection of the United Nations.

"I'm living in a European country to save my life," Siddiq said in an oversees telephone call he made to Al-Jadeed television.

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Geagea Calls on FM Ali Shami to Resign

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea called on Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami to resign if he failed to ensure absentee voting.

March 14 forces are "very much surprised" by Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami's stance, Geagea said in remarks published Monday by the daily Al-Liwaa.

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Raad Backs Follow up of False Witnesses Case before Judiciary: Geagea's Proposal is Illogical

The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad noted on Monday that Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar's report on the false witnesses in the investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will launch a new debate in the country over the matter.

He said after holding talks with former Prime Minister Selim al-Hoss that the judiciary should follow up on the report, whose jurisdiction lies in national security and averting strife and division.

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Ahmadinejad in Controversial Visit to Lebanon

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in Beirut on Wednesday for a controversial visit, the highlight of which will be a tour of Lebanon's volatile border with his arch-enemy Israel.

The hardline leader during his two-day official trip -- his first to Lebanon since he became president in 2005 -- will meet with his counterpart Michel Suleiman as well as Prime Minister Saad Hariri and parliament speaker Nabih Berri.

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Aoun Expects Positive Outcome of Ahmadinejad's Visit

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun said Sunday that he expects a "positive outcome" of an upcoming visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lebanon.

"I expect a positive outcome of the visit given the positive atmosphere between the two countries," Aoun told the Iranian News Agency, IRNA.

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Nasrallah: If We Wanted to Stage a Coup, We Would've Done So in 2005 or on Aug. 15, 2006

Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday described reports "that Hizbullah wants to stage a coup d'état" as "false" and nothing but "empty claims."

"If we wanted to do so, we would've done that in 2005, but we don't want that … we would've taken over the country on August 15, 2006 if we wanted to, so these claims are unfounded," Nasrallah said.

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Jumblat: I am Worried about the Frightening Internal Tension, Ahmadinejad's Visit is Beneficial

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat voiced on Saturday his concern with the "frightening" tensions in Lebanon, calling all sides to be diligent in realizing its dangers.

Commenting on the U.N.'s recent remarks on the false witnesses, he told As Safir Saturday: "This is a local issue, the details of which should be uncovered."

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Mashnouq Calls on Hariri to Resign: Syrian Arrest Warrants are a Political Assault on Lebanon

Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq condemned on Saturday the recent Syrian arrest warrants against Lebanese figures describing them as a "blatant political assault" on the country.

The MP called on Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign because the warrants are an attack against the dignity of the prime minister, urging him not to form a new government except based on an understanding on major issues.

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