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Storm Subsides after Coating Lebanon in Snow

The snowstorm that has been lashing Lebanon since Friday will begin to subside on Sunday afternoon, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

The storm caused heavy snow in a number of mountainous regions, with snow falling at altitudes as low as 600 meters and temperatures plunging to as low as five degree centigrade along the coast.

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Sources: Transportation Allowance to Be Approved before Wednesday’s Parliament Session

Discussions over the transportation allowance may be postponed until after Wednesday’s parliamentary session should political powers fail to reach a solution for the dispute, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s sources told the daily however that they expect the transportation allowance bill to be signed before Wednesday.

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Kanaan: My Proposal on Transportation Allowance is More Comprehensive than De Freij’s

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan stated that his proposal on the transportation allowance provides the basis for a long-term solution, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

He told the daily: “My suggestion is more comprehensive than Mustaqbal MP Nabil de Freij’s and it also proposes that the allowance does not have to be part of the employee’s wage.”

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Suleiman: Ministers are Obligated to Approve Cabinet Decisions

President Michel Suleiman rejected claims that the government is comprised of a single political camp, noting that the disputes among its members demonstrate his point.

He told the daily al-Mustaqbal in remarks published on Sunday: “Whenever cabinet votes on a decision, a minister is obligated to approve it.”

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Jumblat Urges Need to Aid Displaced Syrians as they Continue to Pour into Lebanon

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat noted that it would be unacceptable for Lebanon to remain idle in its approach towards Syrians who have fled to Lebanon to escape their country’s crackdown against anti-regime protests, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

He told the daily: “They should be granted aid and social guarantees regardless of their numbers.”

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Indictments in Hamadeh, Murr, Hawi Cases to Be Released within 10 Days

The indictments in the assassination of former Communist party chief George Hawi and attempted assassinations of former ministers Marwan Hamadeh and Elias Murr may result to new leads in other assassinations that had taken place in Lebanon, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

Opposition sources revealed to the daily that indictment in these three cases will be released within 10 to 12 days.

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Aoun Says Cabinet Crisis Will be Resolved, Denies Party Linked to Red Diesel Scandal

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Saturday that officials are working on resolving the cabinet crisis, stressing that his party is not linked to the red diesel scandal.

“We are working on legalizing the cabinet’s decree concerning the transportation allowance instead of raising the issue to the Shura Council,” Aoun said during a dinner banquet for his party’s Engineers Association.

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Miqati Stresses ‘Teamwork’ Necessary to Safeguard Lebanon’s Interests

Prime Minister Najib Miqati reiterated on Saturday that the cabinet crisis requires the efficiency of its members in order to be solved.

“Keep the faith… and let’s all work together for the national interest of our country,” Miqati said on twitter.

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Young Man, Woman Killed by Gas Leak in Faraya

A young man and woman were killed in Faraya on Saturday after gas leaked in one of the rooms they were staying in, media reports said.

According to MTV, the young man and woman were staying at one of the cabanas at Faraya ski resort.

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Hizbullah and Amal Back Assad’s Reform to Consolidate Syria

The Hizbullah leadership in the South and top members of Amal in Jabal Amel backed on Saturday Syrian President Bashar Assad’s reform efforts which they said aim at consolidating the country against foreign plots.

Following a meeting they held at Hizbullah’s offices in Tyre, the two sides said in a statement that the attempts to target Syria’s stability and the unity of its people and army are aimed at hindering its support for the Palestinian people and their right to liberate their land.

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