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Northern Storm Brigade: Positive Breakthrough in Abductees Case within 10 Days

The case of the nine Lebanese abductees in Syria's Aazaz will witness an important positive breakthrough within the next 10 days, a spokesman for the Northern Storm Brigade said on Friday.

And as he declined to clarify the nature of the declared breakthrough, the spokesman told Turkey's Anatolia news agency that “a list containing the names of dozens of Syrian women detainees will be submitted soon to the Syrian regime through mediators, in order to swap them for the nine Lebanese nationals.”

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Hearing in Ain Alaq Bombing Set for May 24

A trial in the case of the 2007 Ain Alaq bombing took place on Friday.

The trial took place against three suspects currently in custody and two others who are still at large, with the next hearing set for May 24.

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Qassem to Connelly: We Do Not Need Your Advice over the Elections

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Friday that the Lebanese people can handle their own affairs without political directions from any power.

He said addressing U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly: “We do not need your advice over the parliamentary elections or any other issue.”

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Merkel Hails Suleiman's Role in Preserving Stability, Backs Refugee Conference

German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned President Michel Suleiman, lauding his role in preserving stability in Lebanon and hoping that a new cabinet would be formed soon, Baabda palace said Friday.

A presidential statement said that Merkel also expressed support to Lebanon's call for a U.N.-led international conference to discuss the issue of Syrian refugees.

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Armed Men Assault Civil Servant in Nabatiyeh

An employee at the department of real estate in Nabatiyeh told police that he was assaulted by five armed men, the state-run National News Agency reported on Friday.

NNA said Naji Mohammed Rammal, 40, informed Nabatiyeh police station that the armed men pointed their guns at him and assaulted him.

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Charbel Slams Provocative Rhetoric, Applauds Security Forces

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel expressed concern on Friday after the security situation in the country became the “captive” of the strong rhetoric by politicians.

“Citizens fear that the country might slip over into sedition,” Charbel said.

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Relatives of Pilgrims Briefly Erect Tent near Turkish Airlines to Press for Action

The relatives of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria's Aazaz since May last year briefly erected on Friday a tent near Turkish airlines in al-Azarieh building in downtown Beirut, preventing employees from entering its offices.

On their second day of protests near the Turkish airlines offices, the families of the nine men called on President Michel Suleiman to take a firm stance concerning the matter and to press Turkish authorities to resolve this crisis.

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Zasypkin Fears Syria War Could Trigger Qaida Presence in Lebanon

Russian ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin expressed fear on Friday over attempts to drag the country into a sectarian strife, pointing out that the ongoing crisis in the neighboring country Syria might instigate the spread of al-Qaida members in Lebanon.

“The turmoil in Syria has a negative impact on Lebanon, in particular, concerning the cross-border smuggling of arms and fighters between the two countries,” Zasypkin said in an interview with As Safir newspaper.

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Miqati's Adviser Denies Bomb Plot against Caretaker PM

The adviser of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied on Friday that three hand grenades found in the northern town of Qalamoun were placed to target Miqati.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5), Fares Gemayel denied the report published in An Nahar newspaper on Friday.

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Report: STL Trial to Start Next Autumn

The trial at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination case will start next autumn, informed sources told An Nahar daily published Friday.

The sources hinted that both the prosecution and the defense have completed the preparations for the start of trial.

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