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Ministers discuss in Diman 'societal values, national unity'

A consultative ministerial meeting in Diman called Tuesday for expediting the election of a president and for cooperation with Syria and world powers to resolve the refugee crisis.

"We call on all Lebanese to protect the Lebanese formula by consolidating our belonging to our inclusive national identity," the ministers said in a statement after the meeting.

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Bukhari: KSA to back Lebanon tourism if Lebanese resolve crisis

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari on Monday confirmed that the kingdom’s warning to its citizens to leave Lebanon was linked to the latest deadly clashes in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh.

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Abbas tells Mikati Fatah committed to Ain el-Helweh truce

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati a message saying that the Fatah Movement is “committed to the ceasefire in Ain el-Helweh,” informed sources said.

The message was relayed by Palestinian Authority envoy Azzam al-Ahmad, who met with Mikati on Sunday, the sources told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Monday.

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Berri, Jumblat say Lebanon travel warnings by Gulf nations 'incomprehensible'

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who met Sunday in Ain el-Tineh, were both confused about statements by Gulf nations warning their citizens not to travel to Lebanon.

Bahrain had called on its citizens to leave Lebanon "for their own safety" hours after Saudi Arabia did the same without giving a reason.

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Report: Foreign forces behind Ain el-Helweh clashes

The latest tensions in the region had a “direct link” to the deadly armed clashes that erupted on July 28 in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh in south Lebanon, a senior Western diplomat said.

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Lebanon to send two choppers to help fight Cyprus wildfire

Lebanon is sending two helicopters to join Greek and Jordanian aircraft in helping European Union member Cyprus fight a blaze that has scorched miles of mountainous terrain, an official said Monday.

Cyprus Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis told The Associated Press that neighboring Lebanon is expected to send a pair of choppers as the wildfire continues to reignite on several fronts.

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Mawlawi reassures Arabs after Central Security Council meeting

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Monday reassured that Lebanese authorities “have taken all the necessary measures to prevent the spread of clashes to areas outside the Ain el-Helweh camp and to preserve the security of Lebanese and Arab brothers.”

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UNRWA starts cleaning Ain el-Helweh camp, hopes to open all facilities soon

UNRWA has congratulated concerned parties to their efforts in returning calm to the Ain el-Helweh camp following armed clashes that took place during the past week.

"Over the past two days, the Agency had already collected solid waste from some areas within the camp through a private contractor.

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Qaouq: Hezbollah-FPM dialogue only ray of hope in the country

Senior Hezbollah official Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Sunday warned that “the political crisis in Lebanon is deepening the financial-economic-social crisis, while there is a political camp that is still rejecting solutions and insisting on the policy of challenge and confrontation.”

“They are betting on the weapon of foreign sanctions and are inciting to draw these sanctions against their partners in the country,” Qaouq said.

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UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman also issue Lebanon travel warnings

Bahrain has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon "for their own safety" hours after Saudi Arabia did the same without giving a reason.

Another Gulf nation, Qatar, meanwhile called on Qataris in Lebanon to “observe caution and vigilance, stay away from the areas that are witnessing the current incidents, and abide by the instructions issued by the competent local authorities.”

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