Lebanon
Latest stories
Suleiman to Sarkozy: Lebanon is Keen on Safety of UNIFIL Members

President Michel Suleiman cabled his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday stressing Lebanon’s keenness on the safety of UNIFIL troops following the roadside bombing that targeted a French patrol near the southern port city of Sidon.

In his cable, Suleiman “condemned the attack on the French unit and reiterated Lebanon’s keenness on the safety of UNIFIL members.”

W140 Full Story
March 14 Slams Hizbullah’s ‘Provocation’ of Comparing Hariri Assassination Suspects to Saints

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday Hizbullah’s “provocation” of comparing four suspects in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri to saints.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “These stands demonstrate the party’s nervousness ahead of the unveiling of the truth.”

W140 Full Story
Jumblat Seeking to Restore Good Ties with Hariri, Maintain Alliance with Nasrallah

A debate has emerged among the Lebanese forces allied to Syria over Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat’s recent positions, with some sides voicing their disappointment with them, revealed a March 8 source to al-Jumhuriya newspaper on Wednesday.

“We are monitoring his stances” in apprehension of any shift in his alliance, it added.

W140 Full Story
Britain: UNIFIL Should Fulfill its Duties Unhindered

Britain's foreign minister for the Middle East and Africa has expressed concern over the roadside bombing that targeted a UNIFIL convoy near the southern port city of Sidon on Tuesday.

"I am deeply concerned by reports of another attack against a UNIFIL patrol in South Lebanon. My sympathy is with the injured and their families,” said Alistair Burt in a statement.

W140 Full Story
Gemayel to Suleiman: No Dialogue with Backers of ‘Saints’

Phalange leader Amin Gemayel has reportedly said that his party would not engage in dialogue with representatives of Hizbullah who consider the four suspects accused of involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s Feb. 2005 murder as “saints.”

An Nahar daily said Wednesday that Gemayel made his remarks to President Michel Suleiman the day before after the president launched consultations to inquire about the politicians’ viewpoints on his invitation for national dialogue.

W140 Full Story
Lebanese Top Officials Condemn 'Brutal Attack' on UNIFIL

Prime Minister Najib Miqati has denounced the roadside bombing that targeted the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the southern city of Sidon.

Miqati contacted Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi on Tuesday.

W140 Full Story
Ban, Security Council Urge Lebanon to Bring UNIFIL Attack Perpetrators to Justice

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council strongly condemned the attack against a convoy of vehicles carrying members of the United Nations peacekeeping force near the southern city of Sidon in which five soldiers were wounded.

Ban “deeply disturbed” by the attack targeting the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), according to a statement issued by his spokesperson Martin Nesirky.

W140 Full Story
U.S.: Lebanese Government Should Conduct Full Probe into Attack on UNIFIL

The United States strongly condemned an attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, saying the Lebanese government should conduct a "full investigation" into the roadside bombing.

State Department spokeswoman Heide Fulton said on Tuesday that the government should "ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice."

W140 Full Story
Feds: Taliban and Hizbullah Supporters Charged in Drug Stings

U.S. Federal authorities said they have found fresh evidence of growing cooperation between the drug trade and “terrorists” in a probe of two major overseas networks of narcotics dealers.

The investigations resulted in the arrests of four men, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said at a news conference on Tuesday.

W140 Full Story
France Warns Attacks on Peacekeepers Will ‘Not be Tolerated’

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned with "greatest firmness" the attack that targeted French U.N. peacekeepers in a roadside bombing in the southern city of Sidon.

Juppe called on the Lebanese authorities on Tuesday to "do everything necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice."

W140 Full Story