National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblat has denied that a decision by his MPs to accept the postponement of discussion on a controversial draft-law on electricity was aimed at accusing Change and Reform bloc leader Michel Aoun of seeking to squander funds.
Jumblat was referring to the heated debate in parliament on Wednesday over the draft law proposed by Aoun to allow the energy ministry to raise a $1.2 billion fund to build power plants.

Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil warned on Thursday if an electricity bill wasn’t approved by parliament then the cabinet will fall popularly and morally.
“We’re either an actual majority that seeks providing people with their vital needs (or we’re not), but we will not accept becoming false witnesses, therefore we won’t agree on hitting the Lebanese peoples’ interests,” Bassil told As Safir newspaper.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has stressed after returning from Damascus that he wasn’t worried about the fate of the Syrian regime.
In remarks to As Safir daily published Thursday, Jumblat said that he was relieved after his visit to the neighboring country. He added that the situation in Syria was improving.

Former Defense Minister Elias Murr announced on Thursday that a detailed indictment in the investigation into his attempted assassination will be released soon, reported LBC television.
He made his statements after holding talks with a delegation from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon delegation and General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, which he described as “a secret meeting.”

Hizbullah said Wednesday that the March 14 general-secretariat “has ignored the statement issued by the U.N., which denied accusing” the party of being involved in Syria’s violence, noting that “this group did not settle for the fabrication of rumors and lies, but also tried to implicate the U.N. and its organizations in them.”
“Hizbullah does not usually comment on the statements issued by the March 14 general-secretariat because the content is repetitive, well-known and boring,” the party said in a communiqué.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat held talks on Wednesday with Mohammed Nassif, the assistant to the Syrian Vice President, in Damascus, reported the PSP media department.
It said that the meeting was “marked by frankness and understanding and it was an occasion to exchange ideas over the latest political developments.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun accused on Wednesday the government of shortcomings in performing its duties, saying that its “lapses of consciousness are unacceptable.”
He said: “The MPs, administrations, and security apparatuses are conspiring with each other and the Justice Minister is obligated to tackle this matter.”

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams on Wednesday underlined “the importance of maintaining stability and also of protecting (U.N.) Security Council Resolution 1701.”
“We believe that this (UNSCR 1701) has brought stability to Lebanon in the years since 2006 and must be maintained in the face of the many challenges,” Williams added, following talks with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab.
The chief negotiator charged with ensuring the release of the seven Estonians cyclists revealed that they were accidentally abducted by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command, he told Asharq newspaper in remarks published on Wednesday.
The negotiator, who chose not to disclose his name, said that the abductors were seeking to kidnap Americans, then Frenchmen as a second choice, and English nationals as a third one.

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour’s visit to Damascus aimed at showing solidarity with the Syrian regime, saying that it was a shameful moment that portrayed Lebanon as the only Arab supporter of the regime that “is committing massacres against its people.”
It said in statement after its weekly meeting: “We urge President Michel Suleiman to summon Lebanon’s Ambassador to Syria in order to hold consultations on the developments there.”
