Lebanon
Latest stories
Raad: We Seek Justice, But STL is Politicized and it Won’t Uncover the Truth

The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad stated on Thursday that the government and opposition should work together to maintain Lebanon’s national principles, despite their political differences.

He said during the parliament session aimed at discussing the cabinet policy statement: “The government is concerned with implementing the constitution and abiding by the law to resolve political disputes and address the people’s needs.”

W140 Full Story
Shehayeb: We Had Reservations on Use of ‘in Principle’ in STL Clause

National Struggle Front MP Akram Shehayeb stated on Thursday that the new majority proved many sides wrong when it formed a government.

He said during the parliament session to discuss the cabinet policy statement: “We question the release of the indictment in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon simultaneously with the release of the policy statement.”

W140 Full Story
Harb Says Miqati to Suffer as State Would Turn into Dictatorship

March 14 MP Butros Harb lamented on Thursday that the state would turn into a dictatorship during the tenure of the new government but wished Premier Najib Miqati success despite becoming a captive of the parliamentary majority.

“You will suffer during every cabinet session and during the discussion of every issue and you will regret accepting to become a captive of (a government) capable of imposing its view on you,” he told Miqati. “The country will pay the price because it will turn into a dictatorship.”

W140 Full Story
Adwan Urges Miqati to Decide between Legitimacy of Force or Power of Legitimacy

Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan said on Thursday that granting the cabinet the vote of confidence will not affect any clause in the policy statement.

Adwan, during the fifth session of the three-day discussions of the cabinet’s policy statement, addressed PM Najib Miqati by saying: “We don’t envy you because no one wants to be in your place. No one envies the role that the government has to play amid the national crisis.”

W140 Full Story
Sources Rule Out Verbal Attacks between MPs to Have Repercussions on Political Life

High-ranking parliamentary sources ruled out that the verbal clashes that took place at parliament on Wednesday would be reflected on the political life after the cabinet receives its vote of confidence.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Thursday that the situation would remain within the boundaries of the political conflict, hinting that the dispute between pro- and anti-government MPs would not spill over to the street.

W140 Full Story
Al-Jazeera Reporter Says Parliament Guards Beat him

The reporter of the Arabic satellite TV network al-Jazeera was beaten by parliamentary guards and thrown out of Nejmeh Square, al-Jazeera said Wednesday.

It said Journalist Ali Hashem was covering the parliamentary session in Beirut from a café where the statements of MPs were being shown on a television screen when a chief guard asked him to leave.

W140 Full Story
Cabinet Sessions to Start Next Week with Packed Agenda

The first cabinet meeting is expected to be held during the upcoming week to discuss the major issues on its agenda, al-Liwaa newspaper said on Friday.

“The cabinet will in principle meet on Thursday,” informed sources told the newspaper.

W140 Full Story
Lebanese-U.S. Man Accused of Seeking to Set Bomb in Israel on Behalf of Hizbullah

A Lebanese-born U.S. man on the FBI's most wanted list of terror suspects is accused of using a fake passport in an attempt to get into Israel and conduct a bombing on behalf of Hizbullah, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court in Detroit.

Faouzi Ayoub, 44, faces one count of passport fraud, according to the August 2009 indictment that was only unsealed in U.S. District Court in Detroit within the past week.

W140 Full Story
Lebanese Accused of Terror Freed on Bail in Australia

A former Qantas cabin cleaner due to face a retrial over a do-it-yourself jihad manual was released on bail in Australia Thursday, walking free for the first time in almost three years.

Lebanese-born Belal Khazaal was bailed on strict conditions ahead of a November retrial for knowingly making a document connected with assistance in a terrorist act -- a charge on which he was convicted in September 2008.

W140 Full Story
Berri: We Won’t Allow Parliament Tensions to Spill Onto Streets

During the fourth parliamentary debate session on the new government’s Policy Statement, Speaker Nabih Berri voiced alarm over the angry exchanges among some lawmakers.

Addressing MPs, Berri said: “The remarks we have been hearing highlight the fact that this country needs a real reconciliation and you are responsible about this reconciliation before the public opinion.”

W140 Full Story