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Mansour Sends Memorandum to Syria, but Falls Short of 'Protest' Expectations

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour revealed on Wednesday that he sent a memorandum to Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali demanding his country to avoid the recurrence of any border incidents.

Mansour made the revelation to reporters ahead of a cabinet session at the Grand Serail and following two days of harsh criticism by the March 14 opposition on his procrastination in delivering a letter of complaint on Syria’s violations of Lebanese territories in compliance with President Michel Suleiman’s request.

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Report: Hizbullah Uncovers 3-Member Spy Network

Hizbullah has reportedly detained two of its high-ranking officials and a member of a municipality in the eastern Bekaa valley for cooperating with Israel.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Wednesday, the party’s security apparatus was able to expose the three members five days ago.

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SCC Demonstrates near Grand Serail in Concurrence with Cabinet Session

The Syndicate Coordination Committee held a demonstration on Wednesday to protest the cabinet’s failure to approve the new wages scale ahead of a session at the Grand Serail.

The demonstration kicked off from Beirut’s Barbir region and headed to the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut at 10:00 a.m.

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Suleiman to Stress Importance of Dialogue during Presidential Iftar

President Michel Suleiman is throwing on Wednesday an Iftar banquet for Lebanese officials, spiritual leaders and foreign diplomats during which he is expected to reiterate the need for dialogue.

Media reports said Suleiman’s speech will focus on the latest developments in the region and the national dialogue session that was postponed to August 16 after the March 14 opposition coalition boycotted this week’s all-party talks.

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In Beirut, Dozens Protest Russian Position on Syria

Dozens of people protested at the Russian embassy in Beirut on Tuesday, denouncing Syrian regime "massacres" while calling on Russia and China to change their positions on the crisis.

The protesters -- both Syrians and Lebanese -- held up posters denouncing the violence in neighboring Syria, where rights activists say more than 19,000 people have been killed in a 16-month uprising.

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U.S. Extends Sanctions on Wahhab and Hardan

President Barack Obama extended for another year Wednesday sanctions against entities the U.S. considers threatening to Lebanon's stability, a veiled reference to supporters of Hizbullah.

Obama said in a message to Congress that he would prolong the "national emergency" which former president George W. Bush first declared in 2007, and which has been renewed each year since.

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Mansour Delays Sending Complaint to Ali Pending Validation of 'Some Facts on the Ground'

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Tuesday he is taking his time to hand a letter of complaint to the Syrian envoy over Syria’s violation of Lebanon’s border because he is trying to first verify “some facts on the ground.”

On Monday, President Michel Suleiman condemned a recent infiltration by Syrian troops into Lebanon’s eastern border region of al-Qaa and the shelling of several border towns, asking Mansour to hand Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali a letter of complaint.

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In Lebanon, Summer Resort an Unlikely Refuge for Syrians

With wealthy Gulf tourists shunning Lebanon this summer, Hani Abdel Malek did not expect that hundreds of Syrians fleeing violence in their homeland would spare his luxury hotel a bad season.

All 82 of the Al-Safat hotel's suites were empty just a week ago, but in just a single day last week, they were all filled up.

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Mustaqbal: Hizbullah Must Clarify Its Stance on Dialogue over Arms

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called on Hizbullah to “clarify its stance on dialogue over the issue of arms, especially after MP Mohammed Raad’s condemned remarks.”

“Dialogue is an important and essential method to resolve disputes and it is not for maneuvering,” the bloc added in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

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EDL to Suspend Work after Attack on Financial Affairs Office as Bassil Questions Judiciary’s Inaction

Electricite du Liban announced on Tuesday that a number of employees stormed the office of the financial affairs director at the company, threatening her and forcing her to leave the building after she feared for her safety.

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil meanwhile slammed the development, wondering why the judiciary has not yet “performed its duties” in tackling this issue.

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