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Qabbani Says Disputed Maritime Area within Lebanon’s EEZ

Head of the parliamentary energy committee MP Mohammed Qabbani stressed on Thursday that the disputed 854 square kilometers maritime zone belongs solely to Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The area, which Lebanon and Israel are bickering over, contains suspected energy reserves that could generate billions of dollars.

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Sniper Shots Hit Syria Street as Grenade Explodes in Baal al-Darawish

Sniper gunshots were fired on Wednesday at Syria Street, which separates the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, as a hand grenade exploded in the neighboring Baal Al-Darawish area, National News Agency reported.

No gunmen were visible in Bab al-Tabbaneh, amidst complete shutdown of shops and stores, reported NNA.

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Plumbly Meets Fneish, Calls for ‘More Lasting Solutions to the Problems in Tripoli’

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly expressed Wednesday his concern of the security situation in the northern city of Tripoli, urging for “more lasting solutions” to end the clashes.

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Berri: Tuesday’s Baabda Meeting Stressed Importance of Tackling Funding Dispute

Speaker Nabih Berri stated on Wednesday that the Baabda Palace meeting on Tuesday tackled the need to reactivate the government’s functioning.

His visitors quoted him as saying: “The gatherers agreed to tackling the government spending dispute and the need to complete the 2012 state budget.”

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Higher Shiite Council Urges Calm, Ozyildiz has ‘No Comment’ on Identification of Pilgrims’ Kidnappers

The Higher Islamic Shiite Council urged on Thursday the families of 11 pilgrims kidnapped in Syria to exercise self-restraint and remain calm.

Following a meeting held between the deputy head of the Council, Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, and the families of the abductees, a statement urged Turkey to intensify its efforts to release the men.

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Geagea: Hizbullah Will Do All it Can to Thwart Parliamentary Elections

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed on Wednesday that the March 14 camp insists on holding the 2013 parliamentary elections on time.

He said before an LF delegation: “Hizbullah will do all it can to prevent the staging of the elections.”

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1 Killed as Arsal Gunmen Clash with Syrian Troops

Clashes broke out Wednesday between Syrian troops and residents of the border town of Arsal in eastern Lebanon after a Lebanese man was killed and two wounded at dawn along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Security sources said that rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons were fired during the clashes at Kherbet Daoud, an area on the outskirts of Arsal.

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Hizbullah, Jamaa Islamiya Stress Need to Maintain Civil Peace

Hizbullah and al-Jamaa al-Islamiya held talks on Wednesday on the need to maintain cooperation to ensure unity on the Islamic scene in Lebanon.

They stressed in a statement “the need to exert all efforts to preserve civil and national peace.”

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Syrian Intelligence Questions Head of Akkar Town Municipal Chief

The Syrian intelligence arrested Wednesday the head of municipality of the border town of al-Rama in the northern Wadi Khaled area of Akkar province after he entered Syria through the General Security checkpoint, security sources and residents said.

Intelligence officers are questioning Khaled Souaidan after arresting him around 9:00 am, the sources and residents told LBC TV.

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Mirza’s Tenure Ends in July as Qortbawi Seeks Consensus over Successor

Justice Minister Shaqib Qortbawi revealed on Wednesday that he is at the stage of processing the names of the judges that are qualified to succeed General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza.

“I hope that we will not witness any dispute over the names,” Qortbawi told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

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