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Miqati Renews Condemnation of UNIFIL Attack: It is Aimed at Destabilizing Lebanon

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati condemned on Monday the attack against a U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon on Friday, stressing the important role the Italian contingent plays in the international force.

He said after holding talks with Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Giuseppe Morabito: “The attack was primarily aimed at destabilizing Lebanon.”

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Al-Rahi Doesn’t Oppose Amending Taif Accord: Experience Has Revealed Some of its Flaws

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stated on Monday that he does not oppose amending the Taif Accord “as experience has revealed several of its flaws.”

He said after holding talks with Change and Reform bloc MP Nematallah Abi Nasr: “We don’t mind change and if we needed a new agreement, then why not.”

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March 14 to Seek Signature of 20 Ministers as Berri Calls for Parliament Session on June 8

The March 14 forces might resort to adopting a “mobile” draft-law to thwart an attempt by Speaker Nabih Berri to hold a parliamentary session on June 8 to renew the mandate of the Central Bank governor.

Berri is seeking to give the parliament executive powers amid an absence of a government and a need to find solutions to pressing issues such as the renewal of Riyad Salameh’s mandate and amnesty for several prisoners.

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Former Tunisian President’s Wife’s Assets in Lebanese Bank Frozen

A Lebanese bank has frozen the assets of Leila Trabolsi Ben Ali, the wife of former Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and a number of her relatives, revealed official bank sources in Beirut.

They told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper in remarks published on Monday that her accounts are only located in the Lebanese-Canadian Bank and they do not include any accounts for her husband.

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Report: Suspected Terrorist Received $200,000 Cash Deposits

A Lebanese bank informed the private investigation authority at the Central Bank that a client suspected of involvement in terrorist activities had opened an account at one of the bank’s branches.

As Safir newspaper reported on Monday that the suspect declared that he was an electrician, but his account received cash deposits worth $200,000, followed by cash withdrawals.

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Israel Braces for Clashes on Lebanon Border over the Weekend

The Israeli military is preparing for the possibility of violent protests along its borders in the coming days, aiming to avoid a repeat of deadly unrest that erupted earlier this month, a senior military official told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Facebook-organized activists have called for demonstrations next weekend in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Mideast war, in which Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip east Jerusalem and Golan Heights.

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Jumblat Says Political Vacuum Falls Back on Majority

Sources close to Progressive Socialist party leader Walid Jumblat have reiterated that the lawmaker’s remarks on Hizbullah’s rejection to form the cabinet did not intend to “harm” the party.

Sources told As Safir and An Nahar newspapers on Monday that Jumblat “sought to push the cabinet formation forward, since the current vacuum is having bad repercussions on the new majority and the country.”

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Report: Nasrallah Has Held Several Meetings with Assad over Reforms

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has held more than one meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad to discuss reform in Syria, al-Akhbar daily reported Monday.

The newspaper did not say when the talks were held.

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Berri Meets Asarta: Political Vacuum Paving Way for Security Violations

Speaker Nabih Berri lamented that the attack on a peacekeeping patrol on Friday came due to a political vacuum.

“The attack that targeted international troops in Rmeileh is very dangerous and should push us towards speeding up the formation of the cabinet because the vacuum is paving way for security violations,” Berri told As Safir newspaper published Monday.

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Nahhas: Employees Banned from Inspecting 3rd GSM Network

Caretaker Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas said that the telecom ministry employees in Beirut’s Adliyeh building were banned from entering the rooms where the equipment donated by China were located.

Nahhas told As Safir newspaper on Monday that “Ogero officials changed the magnetic card codes that are used to open the doors.”

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