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SANA: Authorities Thwart Another Infiltration of Armed Terrorist Group from Lebanon into Syria

Syrian security authorities thwarted on Wednesday night the infiltration of an “armed terrorist group” from Lebanese territory into a town in Reef Homs in Syria, reported the Syrian news agency SANA on Thursday.

An informed source said that a member of the group was arrested after being wounded, while the rest of the members fled to Lebanon.

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Plumbly Meets Charbel: Attempt on Geagea’s Life Underlines Need for Vigilance

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly expressed on Thursday concern about the “reported” assassination attempt against Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea.

He said after holding talks with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel: “The incident underlines the need for vigilance.”

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Connelly Meets Suleiman: Lebanon’s Support of STL Proves its Rejection of Political Assassinations

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly conveyed on Thursday to President Michel Suleiman the United States’ “deep concern over reports of an assassination attempt on a leading Lebanese political figure.

She noted that Lebanon’s embrace of and support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon demonstrates it has definitively rejected such practices.

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Dynamite Stick Thrown at Shop in Arsal, No Casualties Reported

The Army Command announced on Thursday that a stick of dynamite was thrown at a shop in the Bekaa town of Arsal.

No one was wounded in the incident that took place at dawn on Thursday.

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Miqati Says Geagea’s Assassination Bid Disturbs Country’s Security Situation

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Thursday that the assassination bid of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea affects the security situation in the country.

“The incident affects the security of the nation and the citizens. I have informed the security authorities to follow up the matter,” Miqati told An Nahar newspaper.

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Jumblat’s Sources Warn against Proportionality as his Rivals Slam ‘Majority Maker’

Sources close to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat reiterated the rejection of proportionality in the parliamentary elections as his Druze rivals advocated a new draft-law that would end the MP’s ability to create a new parliamentary majority.

The sources told As Safir newspaper published Thursday that the current draft-law proposed by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel on proportionality is rejected because they claim it does not intend to introduce reform.

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Baragwanath Seeks to Fully Carry Out his Tasks, Urges More Lebanese Lawyers to Join STL

President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Sir Judge David Baragwanath is keen to fully carry out his tasks in order to achieve the purpose behind the formation of the tribunal, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Thursday.

Sources told the daily that Baragwanath stressed during his meetings with senior Lebanese officials on the independence of the tribunal, slamming any attempt to exploit it.

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Opposition: Sehnaoui Responsible for Protecting Assassins by Blocking Telecom Data

The March 14-led opposition held Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui and those who support him responsible for preventing the security forces and authorities from obtaining the telecom data in their probe into assassination attempts.

A senior security official told al-Joumhouria newspaper that acquiring the telecom data for one day isn’t sufficient as the competent security authorities need to frequently analyze and follow up the data in their investigations.

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Berri Criticizes Cabinet’s ‘Slow’ Performance

Speaker Nabih Berri criticized on Thursday the cabinet’s slow performance, saying it was the reason behind his decision to schedule a parliamentary session to assess its work.

He described the cabinet’s performance as a “turtle” and stressed the importance of enhancing its work on all levels.

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Report: Pope to Stress in Lebanon that Christians, Muslims Face Similar Fate

The presidency and the Maronite patriarchate in Bkirki are expected to issue separate statements on the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon during which the head of the Roman Catholic Church will emphasize that the fate of Christians and Muslims are intertwined.

Highly informed sources told As Safir newspaper on Thursday that the statements will be issued on Sunday to announce the pope’s visit to Lebanon in mid-September and his major stops, including a mass that will be held in downtown Beirut.

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