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Mustaqbal, Phalange, LF to 'Openly' Approach Electoral Law Proposals at Subcommittee Meeting

Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan revealed that a meeting was recently held between the LF, Mustaqbal Movement, and Phalange Party to coordinate their stances ahead of the meeting of the electoral subcommittee on Tuesday, reported An Nahar daily on Sunday.

He said: “The three parties will propose an electoral draft law based on 50 districts, but they will openly discuss all draft laws.”

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Hizbullah, FPM, AMAL to Meet ahead of Tuesday's Electoral Subcommittee Meeting

Representatives from Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic Movement, and AMAL are expected to meet before Tuesday's resumption of the electoral subcommittee meetings aimed at tackling the parliamentary electoral law, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

It said that the meeting of March 8 parties aims to unify the camp's position ahead of the talks.

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Jumblat: Talks with Suleiman, Miqati Addressed Ways to End Crisis Given Halt of Dialogue

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated that the meeting he held on Friday with President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati was an opportunity to assess the local and Arab situations, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

He told the daily: “Talks focused on finding ways to end the political crisis in Lebanon given the halt of the national dialogue.”

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Mother of Lebanese Hostage in Syria Seeks General Security Chief's Help

The mother of a Lebanese men held hostage by the Syrian regime urged political leaders on Saturday to exert efforts to release her son Hassan Srour and bring him back to Lebanon.

“I particularly ask General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim to work on this case, as he has helped in retrieving the body of my other son from Syria before,” Amina Turki al-Abboud Srour told the National News Agency.

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Syrian National Caught with Smuggled Communication Devices at RHIA

The customs at the Rafic Hariri International Airport halted on Saturday an attempt to smuggle communication devices connected to satellite technology into Lebanon, the National News Agency reported.

“Three communication devices were discovered at the airport security check in the suitcase of a Syrian national,” the NNA explained, adding that Khalil S. was coming from Turkey via the Turkish Airlines.

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Higher Islamic Council Delegation Tours Sunni Leaders over Elections Dispute

The deputy of Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said Saturday that the Higher Islamic Council is the only body that has the authority to call for the election of its members.

Following talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the head of a Council delegation, Omar Mesqawi said: “We want effective elections that are capable of giving the Council the ability to control the performance of Dar al-Fatwa, including the Mufti.”

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General Security Denies Allegations over Banning Lebanese Film

The General Security general directorate denied on Saturday claims by Lebanese-French director Christophe Karabache that his movie “Too Much Love Will Kill You” was banned from showing at movie theaters in Lebanon.

“The alleged claims are not true as no company has so far asked for a license to show the movie,” a communique issued by the General Security Department said.

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Bassil Denies Calling for Border Closure, Proposes Admission Ceiling for Refugees

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil denied on Saturday that the Free Patriotic Movement has called for the closure of the border with Syria, saying the government should put an admission ceiling for refugees crossing to Lebanon.

During a press conference he held at his residence in his hometown of Batroun, Bassil said he urged the cabinet on Thursday to control the influx of refugees and limit the burden on the Lebanese state. “We never said we wanted to expel them.”

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President Hails Completion of Reconciliation in the Mountains

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Saturday the completion of the reconciliation process in the Mountains, in particular, in the mixed town of Brih in the Shouf.

Suleiman considered that the reconciliation fortifies the national unity and coexistence among the Lebanese as it will strengthen the ties between the residents of the Mountains and the rest of the people.

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Report: Kidnapped Kuwaiti Released after Family Refuses to Pay Ransom

A Kuwaiti man was briefly kidnapped in the North Metn area by three gunmen disguised as police officers, the state-run National News Agency reported on Saturday.

NNA said Moeen Rashad Khorshid was driving his BMW X6 on the road of factories in the town of Mansourieh when three men wearing police jackets intercepted him.

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