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Failed Kidnapping of Iraqi Man in Metn

An Iraqi man escaped an attempted kidnapping in the north Metn town of Dayshounieh, the state-run National News Agency reported Wednesday.

NNA said three gunmen intercepted Hussein al-Hussein, 47, and forced him into their dark blue Mercedes on Tuesday night.

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Abu Dhabi Expels 20 Lebanese Nationals

Oil-rich Gulf emirate Abu Dhabi expelled around twenty Lebanese nationals without any clear reasons, media reports said on Wednesday.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, Abu Dhabi authorities deported the Lebanese citizens last week, noting that they have been living in the emirate for a long period of time.

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Salam Calls on Officials to Facilitate Formation of Cabinet, Says Not Holding Onto Post

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam stressed on Wednesday that he isn't holding onto the post, denying media reports about the distribution of portfolios.

“We seek for a cabinet whose members are not after personal gains,” Salam told his visitors.

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Berri Stresses Need to Reach Agreement on Electoral Law within One Month

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated on Wednesday his support to any electoral law that “enjoys the agreement of all Lebanese.”

He stressed however the need to reach this agreement within a month.

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Mustaqbal Urges Govt. Comprising No MP Hopefuls, Slams Attack on Hermel

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for forming a “homogenous and effective” cabinet comprising no MP hopefuls, condemning the latest deadly cross-border shelling that targeted the Bekaa area of Hermel.

“The campaign of media and political pressures waged by some political forces against Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam -- in order to draw red lines and put obstacles and preconditions -- might lead to impeding the goal defined by the PM-designate, which is the formation of a national interest cabinet,” the bloc warned in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

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Aoun Urges Suleiman, Salam to Respect Constitution: Neutral Govt. is Unconstitutional

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stated on Tuesday that he is open to a “fair and just” solution over the formation of a new government, saying that it should not be unconstitutional.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “A neutral government that is being proposed is unconstitutional.”

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Foreign Ministry Begins Preparing Memo on Syrian Violations

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour revealed on Tuesday that his ministry is awaiting a report from the Army Command on the recent Syrian violations against Lebanon.

He said that the ministry is preparing the memo on the violations, which it will present to the Arab League.

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Sami Gemayel: Hybrid Law Takes us back to the Past because it Does Not Offer Fair Representation

Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel criticized on Tuesday the hybrid parliamentary electoral law, saying that it does not offer fair representation.

He said: “This law takes us back to the past because it does not offer just representation.”

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Madi Denies Prosecutor's Office Behind Leaked 'STL Witnesses' List

General prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi denied on Tuesday that his office was behind the leaked information on the alleged witnesses in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination case.

A statement released by his press office said Madi told visiting STL President Judge David Baragwanath and his accompanying delegation that “his bureau was not responsible for the leaked information because it was not in its possession.”

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Connelly Meets Miqati, Urges All Parties to Avoid Actions that May Lead to Spillover of Syria Unrest

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly conveyed on Tuesday U.S. condolences for the recent deaths and injuries of Lebanese nationals from attacks originating from inside Syria that have struck Lebanese villages.

She reiterated after holding talks with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati “the U.S. call on all parties in the region to avoid any actions that would exacerbate the crisis in Syria, increase the propensity for spillover violence, and negatively impact civilian populations.”

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