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March 14 to Hold a Protest to Reject ‘Weapons-State Coexistence’

March 14 general-secretariat coordinator Fares Soaid said Sunday that the coalition will organize a “peaceful and democratic protest” in support of the international tribunal on the sixth anniversary of the March 14 Cedar Revolution.

The protest will take place in all Lebanese regions and will bear the slogan of the protection of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and rejection of coexistence between weapons and the state, Soaid told Voice of Lebanon radio station.

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Miqati’s Nephew in U.S. Amid Warning of ‘Dangerous Consequences’ of Hizbullah-led Cabinet

Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s nephew is reportedly in Washington in an attempt to garner the support of the Obama administration for the billionaire businessman’s future government.

Informed sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Sunday that Azmi Taha Miqati is discussing with low-ranking U.S. officials ways to garner support for the new cabinet.

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March 14 Preconditions Participation on Policy Statement Support for Tribunal, Rejection of Arms

The March 14 forces have reportedly preconditioned their participation in the cabinet on the inclusion in the policy statement of articles stressing Lebanon’s commitment to the international tribunal and preserving political life from arms.

Informed March 14 forces told An Nahar daily in remarks published Sunday that the coalition is insisting on including two articles that stress the country’s “commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the protection of political life from the predominance of weapons.”

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Harb: Aoun Aiming to Impose his Conditions over Cabinet Formation Opposing President, Premier’s Jurisdiction

Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb noted on Saturday that the government formation is not only facing obstacles from the March 14 camp, but also “greater ones” from the March 8 camp.

He noted after meeting with United Nations Relief and Works Agency Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi: “The greater problem lies between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and President Michel Suleiman and between the forces that nominated the premier-designate to his position.”

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Safadi: I Voted for Miqati Out of the Country’s Interest

Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi stated on Saturday that he voted for Najib Miqati for the premiership out of Lebanon’s interest and the safety of its people.

He said before his visitors in Tripoli: “I voted for him and stand by him over his desire to maintain Lebanon and its democratic system, as well as his keenness to bolster Tripoli’s position in the country.”

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Moussawi: We Managed to Achieve the Change We are Witnessing in Our Political Life

Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf Moussawi stressed on Saturday that change was achieved on the Lebanese political scene through strong will and “brave political leaderships that are being accused of treason.”

“These leaders are responding to accusations of treason with courage in confronting American security, political, and economic threats,” he said.

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Church Sources: Closed-Door Meeting between Sfeir and Pope in Rome to Agree on his Resignation

Expert church circles revealed that the closed-door scheduled between Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Pope Benedict XVI in Rome will represent a suitable opportunity to discuss the former’s resignation.

They told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that the resignation is expected to be finalized in early March.

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Shami to Ban: International Resolutions Call for Demarcating Security Line in Lebanon’s Regional Waters

Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Shami requested on Friday from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that a “maritime security line similar to the Blue Line in southern Lebanon be demarcated in the country’s regional waters.”

He said in a letter to the U.N. official that the demarcation would fall under the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon’s role in designating the land border.

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Miqati’s Government Teetering between Aoun’s Demands and Berri’s Proposal

Political sources monitoring the formation of the new government revealed that the recent meeting Thursday night between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati with Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil “has not overcome the several obstacles regarding FPM leader MP Michel Aoun’s demands over the new cabinet, including his demand for the interior ministry portfolio.”

They told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that House Speaker Nabih Berri had proposed that Aoun be granted the foreign ministry, while the speaker would assume the energy and defense ministries and the president would retain the interior ministry, but the suggestion was rejected.

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Geagea Doesn’t Deny Wikileaks Report: Popular Movements are Not against U.S.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted that the current process of forming a new government is a “major embarrassment”.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that the current chaos over the cabinet formation will not threaten Lebanon even if it does take a long time to set up a government, explaining that the army, security forces, and justice system will prevent any instability.

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