Lebanon
Latest stories
Mustaqbal Calls for Dismissing FM Mansour, Demands Prevention of Armed Appearances in Sidon

Al-Mustaqbal bloc demanded on Tuesday discharging Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour of his duties following comments made by Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali after meeting with him, accusing Syria's diplomat of continuing to “violate Lebanese territories”.

“Violating Lebanese sovereignty and attacking border villages and citizens are not acceptable,” al-Mustaqbal lawmakers stated in a released statement after their weekly meeting at the Center House, stressing that Mansour should be relieved of his duties after these “shameful comments”.

W140 Full Story
Aoun Rejects Elections Based on 1960 Law: Claims Orthodox Proposal is Unconstitutional are Heresy

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Tuesday his commitment to holding the parliamentary elections on time.

He added however that he opposes staging them according to the amended version of the 1960 law that was adopted during the last elections, held in 2009.

W140 Full Story
Inactive Bomb Found in Afif al-Tibi Street in Tariq al-Jadideh

An inactive bomb was found on Tuesday in the Beirut neighborhood of Tariq al-Jadideh.

“An inactive bomb was discovered near Hansel stores in Afif al-Tibi Street in Tariq al-Jadideh,” al-Jadeed television reported.

W140 Full Story
Zasypkin: We Hope Elections will be Held after Consensus, Not under Foreign Diktats

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin on Tuesday said his country hopes the parliamentary elections in Lebanon will be held after “consensus” among the various parties, not “under foreign diktats,” a day after the U.S. ambassador called for holding elections on time.

“We stress that Russia is committed to Lebanon's sovereignty and unity and we back the country's self-distancing policy and the measures taken by the Lebanese authorities, especially the army, to preserve security and stability in Lebanon,” Zasypkin said after talks with Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh in Bnachii.

W140 Full Story
European Commission Grants €30m to Lebanon to Deal with Refugee Crisis

The European Commission will provide additional €30 million to Lebanon to alleviate the impact of the high influx of refugees from Syria, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule announced during his visit to Beirut on Tuesday.

“Lebanon receives the highest number of people fleeing the horrible bloodshed in Syria and we know that it puts this country under enormous strain. The hospitality and generosity displayed by the Lebanese towards their neighbors is admirable and commendable,” said Fule.

W140 Full Story
March 8 MPs Describe Signing Electoral Decree as 'Black Day' in History

March 8 coalition lawmakers considered on Tuesday the signing of the electoral decree a “black day” in the history of legislation, stressing that it will not be approved by the parliament.

“We reject the adoption of the 1960 law... It will not be approved” by the parliament, Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, who is loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, told reporters gathered at the parliament.

W140 Full Story
SCC Protesters Rally Near Baabda Palace as Suleiman Promises Solution Starting March 21

Protesters demanding the government to refer the public sector wage scale to parliament for approval held a sit-in near Baabda palace on Tuesday as the cabinet met to discuss several controversial issues.

The protest was organized by the Syndicate Coordination Committee, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, whose open-ended strike entered its third week.

W140 Full Story
Berri Criticizes Suleiman, Miqati over Electoral Decree: No Parliamentary Session before Agreement

Speaker Nabih Berri criticized on Tuesday President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati after inking an electoral decree the day before, pointing out that he will not call for a parliamentary session if no consensus over the electoral law was reached.

Berri wondered how some officials declare that they oppose the 1960 law, which is based on yjr winner-takes-all system, then work according to it, hinting at Suleiman and Miqati.

W140 Full Story
U.S. 'Urges Every Nation in the World' to Brand Hizbullah Terrorist Organization

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden stressed on Monday that Washington is “urging every nation in the world,” mainly European countries, to consider Hizbullah a terrorist organization.

Iran is “using terrorist proxies to spread violence in the region and beyond the region, putting Israelis, Americans, citizens of every continent in danger,” Biden told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest pro-Israel lobby in the United States.

W140 Full Story
Baabda Sources: Elections Decree Only an Administrative Move

A decision by President Michel Suleiman to sign a decree that calls for parliamentary elections on June 9 was an administrative and not a political move, Baabda palace sources said Tuesday.

Suleiman signed the decree on Monday along with Prime Minister Najib Miqati, drawing the ire of the March 8 majority coalition over fears that the 1960 law that governed the polls in 2009 would be adopted in this year's elections amid lack of agreement in parliament on a new electoral draft-law.

W140 Full Story