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Consultations Focus on Change of Portfolios but Suleiman Sticks to Interior, Defense Ministries

Premier-designate Najib Miqati continued his consultations to break the impasse over the new government makeup after urging the leaders of the main parties to facilitate the formation of his cabinet.

Miqati held talks with the Hizbullah leader’s aide, Hussein Khalil, twice on Friday. He also met twice with the speaker’s assistant, MP Ali Hassan Khalil.

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Israel Threatens to Destroy 150 Lebanese Villages Over Missile Attack

A security source from the Northern Israeli command warned 150 villages in southern Lebanon that the Jewish state would destroy “every house or building from where missiles are launched.”

Israel has evidence that Hizbullah is continuing to prepare for war, the official said.

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Jarrah to Urge Berri to Fight for his Reputation over Syrian Accusations

Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Jamal al-Jarrah said he would meet with Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday to inform him that he should be “punished” if the Syrian accusations against him turned out to be right.

“The reputation of the parliament and consequently the reputation of one of the lawmakers and his constitutional and legal rights are being raised,” al-Jarrah told An Nahar daily.

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Report: March 14 Tells Connelly that Arabs, West Should Protect Lebanon from Syria

The March 14 General-Secretariat has reportedly urged U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly to preserve Lebanon’s stability after the latest Syrian accusations of al-Mustaqbal movement’s involvement in funding a terrorist cell in Syria.

Connelly visited Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid on Friday.

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March 14 Slams Syrian Ambassador's Remarks as 'Veiled Threats'

The March 14 general-secretariat on Friday responded to "accusations" against the coalition of "being involved in the events in Syria."

"From the onset of the popular protests in Syria, pro-Hizbullah figures and media outlets" as well as partisans of the Syrian regime "have been fabricating lies aimed at accusing some March 14 forces of meddling in the events in Syria," the general-secretariat said in a statement.

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Mustaqbal: Loyalty to Resistance Bloc Has Eagerly Rushed to Condemn Us without Trial, Documents, Proofs

The press office of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Friday responded to “the escalating and coordinated campaign against the Mustaqbal Movement and some of its MPs.”

“The Syrian ambassador to Lebanon knows very well that the Lebanese and Syrian states have a judicial agreement that regulates the judicial relation between the two countries,” the press office said in a statement.

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Aoun Responding to Miqati’s Statements that he Will Not Surrender: His War is with Himself

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun called on Friday Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati to take his time in the government formation process, saying that he should not be given any deadlines in this issue.

The MP made his statements in response to Miqati’s announcement from Baabda on Thursday that he will be giving himself more time in the government formation.

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Haaretz: Mideast Turmoil Boosts Iran's Regional Arms Smuggling

Iran has smuggled more weapons to Hizbullah, Syria, and Palestinian groups in recent months, taking advantage of the wave of unrest in the Middle East, reported the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Friday.

Because international attention is focused mainly on regime changes and local intelligence services are busy protecting their rulers, the Iranians have been able to act with greater impunity, it said

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Newborn Child Dead in Nylon Bag, Two Grenades Set Off in Ouzai

An unknown person threw two hand grenades on the main road in Anjar Friday morning.

No person was injured in the bombing that targeted a liquor store, which incurred material damage, reported the National News Agency

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WikiLeaks: Former MP Ahdab: March 14 Forces Not United, Lahoud Must be Toppled

Former MP Misbah al-Ahdab said that divisions were beginning to emerge in the March 14 camp, according to a WikiLeakes cable published exclusively in al-Akhbar newspaper on Friday.

“We’re not a united team, we only gather to have our pictures taken,” Ahdab told then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman in a meeting on August 17, 2006.

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