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March 14: Obstruction of State Institutions Doesn’t Influence the Tribunal

The March 14 secretariat-general urged “obstructionists” on Wednesday to reverse their stance because they said that the obstruction of state institutions does not influence the international tribunal.

Obstruction “hits the state’s ability to bear its responsibilities at this delicate stage whether before or after the release of the indictment,” the secretariat-general said following its weekly meeting.

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Despite his Illness, King Abdullah Discussed with Assad about Lebanon

Saudi King Abdullah is in continuous contact with Syrian President Bashar Assad over the crisis in Lebanon, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday.

Although Abdullah is in the U.S. for treatment, he called Assad several times, the daily said.

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Sfeir: Current Situation Raises Concern

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Thursday expressed concern over the current situation in Lebanon and called on Lebanese to be vigilant.

In an interview with Voice of Lebanon, Sfeir said he hoped for a better situation in Lebanon.

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Fatfat: Hizbullah is Only Group that Can Ignite Street Tensions

Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat on Thursday said Hizbullah is the only group that can ignite street tensions.

"Stability is a permanent need," Fatfat told Radio Free Lebanon.

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Azzam Brigades Urges Lebanon's Sunnis to Reject Hizbullah Dominance

Abdullah Azzam Brigades called on Sunnis in Lebanon to reject Hizbullah's dominance

Abdullah Azzam Brigades on Thursday called on Sunnis in Lebanon to reject Hizbullah's dominance.

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Qassem: Hariri Responsible for Stopping Mockery of Accusations against Hizbullah

Hizbullah's number two Sheikh Naim Qassem said Prime Minister Saad Hariri is responsible for stopping the "mockery" of accusations against Hizbullah in his father's assassination.

"All possibilities are open" if the indictment was issued before reaching a solution, Qassem said in an interview published Thursday by al-Balad newspaper.

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Maronite Bishops: Paralysis Sign of Weakness in National Will

The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday urged the Lebanese to pray for rain and said the paralysis in constitutional institutions are signs of weaknesses in national will.

“Paralysis in constitutional institutions and waiting for external solutions are signs of weaknesses in national will,” Monsignor Youssef Toq said following the bishops’ monthly meeting.

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Suleiman Meets Lebanese Political Leaders in Effort to Break Deadlock

President Michel Suleiman on Thursday launched a fresh effort to break the Government deadlock.

He kicked off talks by meeting separately Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun.

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Jumblat Backs Suleiman’s Efforts to Revive National Dialogue

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has said he supported President Michel Suleiman’s efforts to activate state institutions.

“We back him in his effort to revive dialogue and hold cabinet meetings,” Jumblat, who is on a private visit to Poland, told An Nahar daily during a telephone conversation.

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WikiLeaks: Egypt Has Started a Confrontation with Hizbullah, Iran

Egypt's spy master revealed his service recruited agents in Iraq and Syria to counter Iranian support for militants in his country, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.

Omar Suleiman told U.S. top military commander Admiral Michael Mullen in a 2009 meeting that Iran had tried to recruit Bedouins to smuggle weapons into Hamas-controlled Gaza and that Egyptian security had rounded up a cell of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hizbullah.

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