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STL’s Deputy Head of Defense Office Quits

The deputy head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s Defense Office, Alia Aoun, has informed the Registrar that she intends to return to practice as an attorney, the court said in a press release on Tuesday.

“Following the start of the judicial phase of the STL on 1 February 2012, it is now primarily for the Defense Counsel to ensure the protection of the rights of the accused and equitable justice,” the statement quoted Aoun as saying.

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Teacher Arrested for Raping Student

A teacher in Tyre has been arrested for raping one of his students, reported Voice of Lebanon radio on Tuesday.

The teacher, a male in his mid-fifties, is accused of raping the 12-year old boy at a private school in the southern city.

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Charbel: Investigations into Shaaban Death are Underway

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed on Tuesday that investigations in the murder of slain al-Jadeed television cameraman Ali Shaaban are underway.

He condemned the incident to al-Sharq radio, saying that it “was very unfortunate, especially since the cameramen were unarmed.”

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Shaaban Laid to Rest in his Hometown

The funeral procession for slain al-Jadeed television cameraman Ali Shaaban was held on Tuesday at his hometown of Maifadoun in southern Lebanon.

A number of politicians, local residents, media personalities welcomed the casket as it arrived at the town.

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Report: Syrian Crisis to Spill Over to Lebanon as Cabinet’s Fate Remains Unknown

The Syrian crisis will likely have serious repercussions on Lebanon as the international community failed to intervene to stop the bloodshed in Damascus and establish “safe zones,” a report by the European Institute for the Mediterranean (EuroMeSCo) said.

“The Lebanese parties worry that a Syrian civil war could actually spill over into Lebanon where Sunni-Shiite tension is high,” Riad Kahwaji, the writer of the report, said.

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Fatah Continues Integration of Military Units in Ain el-Hilweh

The Palestinian National Security forces took on Monday control of a checkpoint in the refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh that was manned by a faction led by Munir Maqdah as part of a process of assuming all headquarters and checkpoints.

The Palestinian Armed Struggle headed by Mahmoud Issa, who goes by the nom de guerre of al-Lino, and Maqdah’s faction named the “headquarters” were integrated into the National Security forces at the order of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

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Municipality of Tripoli Witnesses Mass Resignations in Protest of Performance

The municipality of the northern city of Tripoli witnessed mass resignations in protest of the performance of its head, forcing Tripoli to join the municipal by-elections that will take place on May 6.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday that 10 members of Tripoli’s municipal council submitted their resignations, and the number will likely reach 13.

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Israel Concerned Syrian Arms Falling in Hizbullah Hands

Israeli officials are concerned about reports that Hizbullah is putting its hands on Syrian arms, though it is still unclear whether the Lebanese party has gotten hold of chemical weapons, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper quoted Israeli officials as saying that it remains unclear how far Washington will go to help bring about the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

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Mansour Denies Visit to Libya to Prepare Declaration of Sadr’s Death

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour denied that his visit to Libya aims at setting up the required measures to announce officially the death of revered Lebanese Shiite Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his two companions, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“Mansour denies what some media reports said about the case and would harm the investigations,” his press office said in a statement.

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Report: Army Detains Soldiers who Sold Weapons to Syrian Opposition

The Lebanese army has exposed soldiers who breached its security by stealing arms from its warehouses and selling them to weapons dealers who in their turn smuggled the equipment to the rebel Free Syrian Army, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.

The army intelligence branch arrested Officer Kh. H. from the town of Arsal in the eastern Bekaa valley, who worked as a guard at a warehouse belonging to the army’s eighth battalion.

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