Lebanon
Latest stories
Nasrallah Makes Rare Appearance, Says Party’s Arsenal Growing in Numbers

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appeared in public for the first time since 2008 on Tuesday stressing that his party’s fighters and arsenal were growing in numbers despite the efforts to disarm the group.

"I wanted to be with you for a few minutes ... to renew our pledge and for the world to hear us," Nasrallah said after he walked among the crowds with his bodyguards clearing the way for him to reach the stage in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

W140 Full Story
Report: STL Delegation in Lebanon ‘Soon’ to Inquire about Suspects

A delegation from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare’s office will visit Beirut soon to meet with General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The daily reported that the delegation is expected to inquire the Lebanese officials about the exerted efforts to detain four Hizbullah suspects indicted in ex-PM Rafik Hariri’s murder, and the difficulties hindering the implementation of the international arrest warrants.

W140 Full Story
Controversial Wage Boost on Cabinet Agenda Amid Threats of Strikes

The cabinet is set to discuss on Wednesday the controversial decrees proposed by Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas on the wage boost to Lebanon’s employees in the public and private sectors.

While the participation of Nahhas along with the other Free Patriotic Movement ministers in the session is not clear yet, the salary raise is on the meeting’s agenda.

W140 Full Story
Cabinet Session to be Held on time but Stance of FPM Ministers Not Clear Yet

Premier Najib Miqati has met with President Michel Suleiman to discuss the agenda of Wednesday’s cabinet session as Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun is expected to announce whether the ministers loyal to him would attend the meeting or not.

Suleiman’s sources told As Safir daily that the session should be held on time, saying the people’s needs should be prioritized rather than obstructing the government work.

W140 Full Story
Feltman Arrives Wednesday in Beirut to Meet Senior Officials

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who will arrive in Beirut on a two-day visit on Wednesday, is expected to hold talks with senior Lebanese officials over matters concerning the security and political situation in the country.

“Feltman will focus (in his talks) on the security and political situation in Lebanon and the regional situation especially in Syria,” a U.S. diplomatic source told As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.

W140 Full Story
Sehnaoui: Unauthorized Activity Detected on OGERO Mobile Network

Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui on Monday accused Abdul Monem Youssef, head of the OGERO telecom authority and the ministry’s director general of investment and maintenance, of seeking to suppress the truth about a mobile phone station allegedly operating outside state control.

At a press conference he held to announce the findings of a technical team tasked with probing the activities of the station, Sehnaoui said Youssef refused to grant the technical team information it had repeatedly requested concerning the controversial mobile station’s activities.

W140 Full Story
Suleiman, Miqati Discuss Cabinet Agenda ahead of Key Session

President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati held talks Monday in Baabda on the latest developments and the agenda of the cabinet session scheduled for Wednesday, state-run National News Agency reported.

Wednesday’s session comes a week after Miqati announced the postponement of the previous cabinet meeting and the transfer of Lebanon’s annual share of funds to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

W140 Full Story
Gemayel Urges Unity to Prevent Lebanon from Becoming Victim of Regional Changes

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel urged on Monday political leaders to stop getting embroiled in petty disputes that distract them from major developments in Lebanon and the region.

He said after holding talks with Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin: “The Lebanese leaderships should fortify Lebanon against the unrest raging in the region.”

W140 Full Story
Qaida-Linked Group Denies Israel Rocket Attack, Blames Hizbullah

An al-Qaida-inspired group has denied claiming responsibility for a recent rocket attack from southern Lebanon against Israel, instead blaming a group linked to Hizbullah, a U.S. monitoring group said Monday.

In a statement issued on jihadist forums, the Brigades of Abdullah Azzam said the November 29 attack should be seen as a warning to the West and Israel from embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the SITE Intelligence Group said.

W140 Full Story
STL Registrar to Answer Questions Live on Twitter on Wednesday

The Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Herman von Hebel, will be answering questions from Lebanese citizens and the general public on Wednesday, December 7 from 3 to 5 pm Beirut Time, announced the STL in a statement.

Questions directed to the Registrar should contain the hashtag #STLRegistrar, it explained.

W140 Full Story