Lebanon
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Hizbullah: Situation in Lebanon Must Return to Normal as Soon as Possible

Hizbullah stressed on Friday the need for a productive government that can help alleviate the burdens of the Lebanese people, reported the National News Agency.

Hizbullah politburo member Ghaleb Abu Zainab stated: “It is therefore important for the governmental process to return to normal as soon as possible because its current paralysis will harm the Lebanese people.”

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Geagea: Circumstances Unsuitable for Opposition to Topple Govt.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated that the March 14-led opposition is capable of toppling the government through popular protests.

He added however: “The current circumstances are not suitable for such an action.”

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Electricity Bill Collector Robbed in Beirut's Southern Suburbs

An Electricite du Liban bill collector has claimed that two gunmen stole more than LL4 million from him in the area of Rweiss in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the National News Agency reported Friday.

NNA identified the bill collector by his initials as A.Y.

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Miqati Optimistic Disagreements Will be Resolved, Insists on Activating Productivity of Cabinet

Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed confidence on Friday that the cabinet members will be able to eventually resolve the disputes among each other.

“I’m not in a hurry… I only care about the productivity (of the cabinet),” Miqati said in remarks published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

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Security Forces Play Down Sami Gemayel Murder Plot as Family Stresses Assassination Thwarted

Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel stressed on Friday that an assassination attempt against his son, MP Sami Gemayel, had been thwarted although security forces tried to minimize the impact of the new revelation, saying the lawmaker had only been advised to avoid attending a dinner.

In remarks to al-Liwaa newspaper, the Phalange chief said: “We received information from the generate-directorate of the Internal Security Forces -the Intelligence Branch about a plan to assassinate MP Sami Gemayel whose preparations were made at the time and place where he would be.”

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Nasrallah to Make Two Appearances this Month

Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is expected to deliver two speeches in the upcoming two weeks, according to newspapers published on Friday.

The first speech will be on Tuesday on the occasion of the Birth of the Prophet, while the second will be on February 16 during the annual “Martyrs' Leader Day.”

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Suleiman Reportedly Seeking ‘New Style’ in Cabinet’s Work

Environment Minister Nazem al-Khoury, who is loyal to President Michel Suleiman, revealed on Friday that the head of state has launched mediation efforts to resolve the dispute between Premier Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Al-Khoury told An Nahar daily that Suleiman “is seeking to revive the cabinet sessions and the government’s work by either contacting the prime minister or the rest of the parties.”

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Berri Confident in Miqati, Aoun’s Ability to Resolve Crisis

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed confidence in the ability of Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to resolve the cabinet crisis and reactivate its work.

“I am confident Miqati and Aoun are keen to safeguard the government and resume its activities,” Berri told An Nahar newspaper on Friday.

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Contacts with Aoun to Resolve Cabinet Crisis Frozen

No contacts have been made yet with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to limit the sharp differences between his ministers and Premier Najib Miqati over the appointments of civil servants that led to the suspension of cabinet sessions, An Nahar daily reported Friday.

The newspaper said that Aoun’s son-in-law, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, did not discuss the issue with Miqati on Thursday after he attended a ministerial committee meeting to discuss the leasing of power-generating vessels.

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Hariri’s Murder Anniversary in BIEL on Feb. 14 and Martyrs Square on March 14

The March 14 leadership decided following days of consultations to mark the anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination on Tuesday Feb. 14 at the Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center, An Nahar daily reported.

The newspaper said Friday that the coalition’s leaders also agreed to hold a mass rally at the Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut on March 14.

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