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Mansour Presses Diplomats of Gulf Countries to Review their Decisions

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour held talks on Tuesday with diplomats of three Gulf countries that have called on their citizens to leave Lebanon in his ongoing effort to persuade them to review their decisions.

The current security tension in Lebanon is provisional and does not require such decisions, Mansour reportedly told the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.

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Lebanese-U.S. Man Gets over 6 Years in Hizbullah Funds Case

A federal judge has sentenced a Lebanese-American man to just over six years in prison after he and his wife pleaded guilty in a plot to ship money to Hizbullah.

Prosecutors say Hor Akl met with an FBI informant three years ago and began talking about ways to send money to Hizbullah.

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Ban Urges Lebanese to ‘Make Every Effort to Restore Calm’

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday appealed for calm in Lebanon following clashes involving pro- and anti-Syrian groups, which has sparked fear of a widening conflict.

The Secretary-General, through a statement released by his office, said he is "concerned by the tensions in Lebanon in recent days and calls on all parties to make every effort to restore calm."

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2 RPGs Fired in Tripoli, Roads Blocked in Akkar, Bekaa, Naameh

Two rockets were fired on Monday in Tripoli, one landing in Jabal Mohsen and the other between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, a security official told Agence France Presse, as roads were blocked in several areas to protest the shooting death on Sunday of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed at an army checkpoint in Akkar.

The explosion of rockets did not cause any injuries, the official said.

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Asiri Says Riyadh 'Closely Following Developments' in Lebanon

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri on Monday noted that the kingdom “is closely following the developments” in Lebanon, adding that Riyadh would only issue a travel warning should it feel that its citizens are in possible danger.

“Should we feel that our citizens are in danger, we will take the right decision, but right now we are closely following the developments,” Asiri told reporters following talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.

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Miqati Hits Back at Mustaqbal MPs, Says 'Dousing Fire Ignited by Their Fiery Stances'

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Monday snapped back at Beirut’s MPs over their call for him to resign, noting that he is trying to “douse the fire ignited by some Mustaqbal Movement MPs through their fiery, irresponsible stances.”

“The call for the government’s resignation has become present in all the statements and remarks of the Mustaqbal MPs, which reflects a deep desire to regain what they consider an undisputable right,” Miqati’s office said in a statement.

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U.S. 'Concerned' about Lebanon Security, Lauds Decision to Probe Shooting

The United States on Monday voiced concern about security in Lebanon, but said it welcomes a pledge by the Lebanese authorities to probe the shooting that killed Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his companion, urging all sides to show restraint.

"We are concerned by the security situation in Lebanon following the shooting of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Merheb near a Lebanese Army checkpoint in the northern region of Akkar," U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

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Russia: Forces Unable to Destabilize Syria Turn to Lebanon

Forces which have failed to implement their plans to destabilize Syria have turned to Lebanon, Russian’s foreign ministry said on Monday.

"Moscow is seriously concerned by growing internal tensions in Lebanon. It appears that the forces that have failed to realize their plans to destabilize Syria have turned to neighboring Lebanon," the ministry said on its website.

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Beirut MPs Demand Miqati’s Resignation: His Govt. is Facilitating Return of Civil War

Beirut MPs commended on Monday the clashes that erupted in the city on Sunday, accusing some powers and military agencies that are affiliated with the Syrian regime of seeking to create instability in Lebanon.

They said after an extraordinary meeting at the Center House: “We demand Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s resignation because his government is facilitating the return of the civil war.”

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Tense Funeral for Abdul Wahed, Merheb in al-Bireh, Daher Calls for Executing Killers

Slain clerics Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his companion Sheikh Mohammed al-Merheb were laid to rest on Monday in the Akkar town of al-Bireh, amid tensions and intense shooting into the air by gunmen who deployed heavily at the funeral’s site.

Throngs of people gathered in the town to attend the funeral in the afternoon.

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