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Bassil: Offshore Gas Could be Enough to Cover Power Production for 99 Years

Lebanon is technically ready to start drilling for offshore natural gas reserves, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said on Monday, after exploration in around half the country's exclusive economic zone was completed.

"Lebanon has now reached the stage where it can start drilling for gas," Bassil told journalists on a tour to an area in the south of the country where reserves are disputed with Israel and Cyprus.

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Anti-Islam Film Banned from Lebanon

Judge Nadim Zwein prohibited on Monday the airing of the anti-Islam film, Innocence of Muslims, in Lebanon due to its “great offense” to Islam.

The decision was made after it was found that the movie contained several scenes that are considered to be offensive.

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Officer Killed in al-Ghobairi Clashes Laid to Rest

Officer Abbas Jomaa died at dawn on Monday from wounds he sustained during clashes with wanted suspects al-Ghobairi neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs.

He was laid to rest during an official funeral that was attended by a number of political and military officials.

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45 People Charged over KFC Attack in Tripoli

Military Tribunal Judge Saqr Saqr charged on Monday 45 people over an attack against a KFC fast food restaurant in the northern city of Tripoli, a judicial source told AFP.

The attack was carried out during a protest staged by Islamists in the port city on September 14, during which some 300 demonstrators rallied to denounce a U.S.-made film that mocks Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

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Syria Denies Sacking of Ambassador to Lebanon

Syria's Ministry of Information on Monday denied the sacking of the country's ambassador to Lebanon and said a previous email announcement was a result of hacking, state television reported.

"The email account of the ministry was hacked in order to publish inaccurate information" about the reported dismissal of the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali, the ministry said in a statement carried by state television.

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Jumblat Questions Pay Raise for Ministers, MPs: Their Salaries Must be Cut in Half to Set an Example to People

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat questioned on Monday the “shameful” proposal to raise the salaries of presidents, ministers, and lawmakers, saying that such a suggestions is unacceptable in light of the difficult financial situation in the country.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Their salaries should not be raised, but cut in half to set a good example to the people.”

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Jamaa Islamiyya Protests Detention of Five Syrians

Some 100 Lebanese Islamists opposed to the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad held a protest on Monday to denounce the arrest of five Syrians by the Lebanese security forces.

The Syrians were arrested on Sunday, after they crossed into Lebanon via Mount Hermon on the border between Lebanon and Syria, a security official told AFP.

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One Killed, Another Wounded in Landmine Blast in al-Barbara

One person was killed and another wounded on Monday in a landmine explosion in al-Batroun.

The blast took place during excavations operations in the al-Barbara area in al-Batroun.

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Man Abducted over Weekend Returns Home after Being Abandoned by Kidnappers

Bassel al-Mays, who was kidnapped over the weekend, managed to escape on Monday from the abductors, the National News Agency reported.

The Army Command explained in a statement that the kidnappers had abandoned the captive in a cave in the Dahr al-Baydar region after the army investigations determined their identities.

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Charbel Denies 7-Day Period to End Kidnapping Operations across Lebanon

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel denied on Monday that he gave a seven-day deadline for the end of the kidnap-for-ransom phenomenon in Lebanon, pointing out that a political agreement is necessary to control arms spread across the country.

“I have stated previously that the cabinet agreed on supporting the efforts exerted by the security agencies to free all the abductees,” Charbel said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

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