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Salam Arrives in Saudi: Al-Rahi Did Not Ask Me to Propose Extension of Suleiman Term

Prime Minister Tammam Salam announced Monday that he will not discuss the presidential vote with Saudi officials during his visit to the kingdom, denying that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had asked him to propose the extension of President Michel Suleiman's term.

“Al-Rahi did not ask me to convey a proposal on extending Suleiman's term and my visit to Saudi Arabia is not for discussing the presidential election, which is for the Lebanese to conduct,” Salam told reporters onboard the plane that carried him to the Gulf state.

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Geagea Says Hariri Talks Tackled Aoun Nomination, Stresses FPM Chief Not 'Consensual'

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday said his Paris talks with former premier Saad Hariri tackled MP Michel Aoun's presidential nomination and the fact that the Free Patriotic Movement leader has proposed himself as a “consensual” candidate.

"I demonstrated with ex-PM Saad Hariri all the aspects of the political process related to the presidential vote and we discussed all the possible solutions to the crisis and raised all the possibilities," Geagea said during a press conference in the French capital, according to a statement distributed by the LF's media department.

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Suleiman Asks Constitutional Council To Review Rent Law Constitutionality

President Michel Suleiman on Monday asked the Constitutional Council to look into the constitutionality of the new rent law.

The state-run National News Agency reported that Suleiman requested the Council to check whether the draft law adheres to Article 19 of the Constitution.

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Mashnouq from UAE: Positive Signs that Travel Advisory against Lebanon Will Be Lifted

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq hoped on Monday that Emirati nationals would once again return to Lebanon “after stability in the country has been restored” due to the implementation of the government's security plan.

He said while on a trip to the UAE: “There are positive signs that the emirate may lift the advisory against its citizens traveling to Lebanon, but I have not yet received such a pledge.”

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Kataeb Urges Parliamentary 'State of Emergency' to Elect New President

The Kataeb Party on Monday called for declaring a “parliamentary state of emergency,” urging the legislature to hold successive rounds of voting to elect a new president before the May 25 deadline passes.

“In the last few days that separate us from the end of the constitutional timeframe to elect a new president of the republic, the Kataeb Party cannot but raise the voice to demand respect for the constitution,” said a statement issued after the weekly meeting of the party's politburo.

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Fatah Official Survives Assassination Attempt in Ain el-Hilweh

Fatah Movement official Colonel Talal al-Ordoni survived on Monday an attempt against his life in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in the southern city of Sidon.

Three people were wounded in the bomb blast that targeted Ordoni, reported al-Jadeed television.

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Hale Meets Suleiman, Berri, Urges Staging Elections on Time

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale stressed on Monday the need for Lebanese officials to hold the presidential elections and avoid vacuum in the country's top post.

He said after holding separate meetings President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri: “We urge Lebanon’s leaders to conduct the presidential election on time and in accordance with the constitution.”

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PM Meets al-Rahi: Presidential Vacuum Will Harm the Whole of Lebanon

Prime Minister Tammam Salam warned on Monday of the dangers of presidential vacuum in Lebanon, saying that efforts should be exerted to avoid it.

He said after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at the Grand Serail: “Vacuum in the presidency will harm the Maronite sect and the whole of Lebanon.”

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Lawmakers to Discuss Suleiman's Message on Wednesday

Speaker Nabih Berri called on Monday for a parliamentary session to tackle a message sent by President Michel Suleiman to the parliament regarding the presidential elections.

The session is set to be held on Wednesday at noon.

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Report: Kataeb Chief Briefed March 14 Officials on his Initiative, Inquired them on Next Stage

Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel briefed top March 14 officials over the weekend on the results of his attempts to resolve the presidential crisis ahead of the “second stage” of his initiative, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

Gemayel met with Ministers Butros Harb, Michel Pharaon and Salim al-Sayegh, and MPs Marwan Hamadeh and Dory Chamoun, in addition to March 14 general-secretariat coordinator Fares Soaid over lunch at a restaurant in Bikfaya, it said.

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