The Internal Security Forces killed two accomplices of the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of seven Estonians during clashes in the area of al-Bireh in Rashaya at midnight, media reports said Tuesday.
The National News Agency said the two men were killed at around 12:30 am after the ISF put iron barricades on a road between al-Bireh and Izza to stop their four-wheeler. But their vehicle veered off its course and hit a wall.
Full StoryPresident Michel Suleiman has put Israel’s infringement on 870 kilometers of Lebanese waters at the top of the agenda of his talks with world leaders in New York, including U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, Lebanese diplomatic sources said.
Suleiman is in New York to participate in the annual General Assembly meeting. He is scheduled to attend a Security Council session on Libya on Tuesday and address the Assembly the next day.
Full StorySpeaker Nabih Berri stressed on Tuesday that Lebanon has the right to preserve its natural resources, urging officials to speed up deals with foreign companies to drill for oil and gas in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Berri reiterated to As Safir newspaper that neighboring countries will soon start oil and gas exploration.
Full StoryThe cabinet on Monday approved the proposed borders of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean, a step that was postponed during the last session.
On September 5 Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour warned the U.N. that Israel's proposed sea border threatens peace and security.
Full StoryFive people were wounded on Monday when a dispute between the families of Obeid and Hammoud erupted into gunfire in the southern town of Arab Sabaya, state-run National News Agency reported.
Security forces immediately intervened and managed to contain the situation and arrest the shooters, NNA said.
Full StoryState Prosecutor Saeed Mirza on Monday handed a Special Tribunal for Lebanon delegation a report he prepared about the cases of ex-defense minister Elias Murr, MP Marwan Hamade and former Lebanese Communist Party chief George Hawi, state-run National News Agency reported.
Mirza also handed the delegation a report he prepared about the efforts exerted by the Lebanese authorities to enforce the STL arrest warrants issued for four Hizbullah operatives accused of being involved in the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.
Full StoryPhalange party leader Amin Gemayel has held talks with former Premier Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia, the party announced on Monday.
MP Sami Gemayel also attended the talks on the latest developments, the statement said.
Full StoryWashington has reportedly asked for explanations from Bkirki on Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s controversial statements on Hizbullah’s arms and Syria.
Ad-Diyar daily said Monday that al-Rahi’s stances would hinder meetings between him and top U.S. officials, including President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Full StoryThe funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri will be discussed away from the media spotlight, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.
“The issue is being discussed away from the media especially between the Prime Minister (Najib Miqati) and Hizbullah,” informed sources told the daily.
Full StoryForeign Minister Adnan Mansour will hold a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem to coordinate stances concerning the developments in the Arab world, As Safir newspaper reported on Monday.
Mansour and Muallem will coordinate during a meeting next Saturday in New York the stances of their countries regarding the popular uprisings in the Arab world and the general situation ahead of a meeting at the U.N. Security Council and the General Assembly.
Full Story