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Aoun Says Christian Areas Would Be Spared Civil Strife if Geagea Avoided Resorting to Arms

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday noted that "Christian areas would be spared" the violence of a potential civil strife in the country if Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea avoided resorting to weapons.

After the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, Aoun said that Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, former head of General Security Department, filed his lawsuit with the Syrian judiciary "as a result of the judicial vacuum in Lebanon."

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Baroud Rejects Stability Vs. Justice Theory

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said he does not accept "stability vs. justice" theory.

"There is growing concern in Lebanon about the consequences of the International Tribunal," he said in a lecture in Washington.

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March 14: We Look with Much Caution at Ahmadinejad's Lebanon Visit

The majority March 14 alliance on Wednesday expressed fear over the imminent visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lebanon.

"We look in much caution and suspicion to the Iranian President's planned visit to Lebanon due to his anti-peace positions and his insistence on considering Lebanon as an Iranian base in the Mediterranean coast," said a statement issued at the end of March 14's weekly meeting.

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Maronite Bishops Fear Ongoing Tension Could Spill Out into Streets

he Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday expressed fear that ongoing tension could spill out into the streets and called on everybody to rally behind State institutions.

"The difficult circumstances in the region calls for caution and unifying ranks," said a statement read by father Joseph Bwari at the end of the CMB's monthly meeting.

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Berri Threatens to Uncover Violations of Law if Political Rhetoric Does Not Stop

Speaker Nabih Berri warned that he will uncover a set of violations of the law if political rhetoric does not stop.

"I will hold a press conference if things go on like this and explain in detail before the Lebanese the violations that are taking place at some (public) departments," he said in remarks published Wednesday by the daily An-Nahar.

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Hariri: We Won't Let Rafik Hariri's Blood Go Waste

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday warned that Lebanon will "not let the blood of Premier Rafik Hariri go waste."

Hariri, during Mustaqbal Movement's politburo meeting, underlined the importance of "ensuring internal stability and rallying behind Constitutional institutions in order to spare the Lebanese the atmosphere of chaos and out of respect for Arab's keenness on Lebanon's stability," his office said in a statement.

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Muallem Says STL to Accuse Hizbullah, Warns of Sectarian Violence over Indictment

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has been irredeemably "politicized," and warned that accusing Hizbullah of ex-PM Rafik Hariri's murder will plunge Lebanon into a new round of sectarian violence.

Damascus has "received word that members of Hizbullah were soon to be formally charged with the assassination," Muallem said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal from New York.

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Jumblat: Mutual Understanding is Needed

Druze leader Walid Jumblat said a mutual understanding is needed among the various political leaders.

"Reaching understandings is our main concern," Jumblat said in remarks published Tuesday by the daily As-Safir.

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Sfeir Concerned by Challenges that Weaken Lebanon Position

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Monday was quoted as saying that Israeli leaks about the indictment to be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon suggested that the Court was being politicized.

President of the General Maronite Council, former Cabinet Minister Wadih Khazen, said after meeting Sfeir that the Patriarch also expressed concerns over the "challenges that weaken the Lebanese position at these critical conditions."

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Aoun Holds Talks with Assad on Lebanese Developments, Efforts to End Tension

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun held talks on Saturday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria on Lebanese developments and efforts aimed at ending the tensions between the various Lebanese sides, reported the Syrian News Agency, SANA.

The efforts are aimed at guaranteeing Lebanon's stability and security and bolster understanding between the Lebanese, it reported.

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