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Security Raids in Search for Terrorists Carried Out Discreetly

Security forces are carrying out raids away from media spotlight in several areas across the country in search for suspects, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Saturday.

The newspaper reported that raids are ongoing in an attempt to fortify “preventive” security in Lebanon and avert any possible threats.

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Derbas Denies Rift with Bassil, Says Syrian Refugees Camps to be Erected in Buffer Zones

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas denied on Saturday any rift with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, stressing that the cabinet had agreed to establish camps for Syrian refugees outside Lebanese territories or in buffer zones along the border with Syria.

Derbas ruled out in remarks published in local newspapers the differences with Bassil over the appropriate ways to resolve the crisis.

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Berri, Jumblat Agree to Extend Parliament's Term amid Presidential Vacuum

Speaker Nabih Berri agreed with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat that parliamentary elections shouldn't be staged ahead of the election of a new president.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Saturday, the two officials reject parliamentary elections amid the ongoing situation in the country.

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Shiite Charities Negatively Affected by Decision to Cancel Iftars

A decision by Shiite parties Hizbullah and AMAL to cancel daily iftars held throughout the holy month of Ramadan over security fears angered charities, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Saturday.

The daily said that charities complained about the decision, in particular those that follow Shiite scholar Sayyed Ali Fadlallah and Higher Shiite Islamic Council Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan.

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'Free Sunnis Brigade' under Prosecution, Azzam Brigades Say Twitter Account Run by Hizbullah Affiliates

While ambiguity continues to surround the so-called Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade, Sheikh Sirajeddine Zouraykat of the Abdulllah Azzam Brigades said on Friday that the group's Twitter account as “fake” one run by sides affiliated with Hizbullah.

"The Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade is a fake account run by sides affiliated with Hizbullah and we should be cautious and avoid communicating with it,” Zouraykat wrote on his own account on the social media website Twitter.

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Lebanese Judiciary Dismisses beIN's Lawsuit against TL

Lebanese judicial authorities on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the beIN Sports TV network against state broadcaster Tele Liban over its airing of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“Judge of Urgent Matters Zalfa al-Hassan has ruled on the lawsuit filed by the beIN Sports firm against Tele Liban over its broadcast of the World Cup matches, dismissing the case for lack of jurisdiction,” state-run National News Agency reported.

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SNC to Bassil: Press Your 'Terrorist Ally' Hizbullah to Withdraw so that Syrians Can Return Home

The opposition Syrian National Coalition on Friday snapped back at Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, calling on him to press Hizbullah to withdraw from Syria “instead of launching verdicts against Syrian refugees.”

“Once again Lebanese Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil comes up with a number of fallacies that contradict with the living situations of Syrian refugees in Lebanon,” Coalition member Alia Mansour said in a statement.

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Tariq al-Jedideh Roads Temporarily Closed over 'Suspicious' Car

Several road in the Beirut neighborhood of Tariq al-Jedideh were temporarily closed on Friday afternoon after security forces suspected the presence of a booby-trapped car.

"Security forces closed several roads in the Tariq al-Jedidedh area near al-Soussa restaurant and the Abdul Aziz mosque over suspicion of the presence of explosives inside a vehicle there,” radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) reported.

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Bassil: Setting up Syrian Refugee Camps in Lebanon Violates Constitution

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil warned on Friday of the rising tensions between the Lebanese people and Syrian refugees due to the burden the latter is posing on Lebanon, rejecting the establishment of camps for the displaced within the country.

He said during a press conference: “Legitimizing Syrian refugee camps is a violation of the constitution, which speaks against nationalization.”

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Syrian Jets Target Outskirts of Arsal, One Killed

Two Syrian nationals were killed on Friday and and five other people wounded in five air raids staged by the Syrian regime on the outskirts of the eastern border town of Arsal.

Media reports said that the raid targeted the Wadi al-Ajram area, 7 kilometers into the Lebanese depth.

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