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Hizbullah Intervenes in Bid to Soften Aoun's Demand on Miqati

Hizbullah has reportedly stepped in to try to soften Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun's demands for government formation.

Aoun has been insisting he wants the interior ministry in the new government to be formed by Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati.

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Lebanese Residents of Bahrain Prevented from Entering Kuwait without Visas

The Lebanese embassy in Bahrain has informed the Lebanese residing in the Gulf country that they should obtain visas before entering Kuwait.

The embassy said in a circular that Kuwaiti authorities have taken new measures that prevent Lebanese with residencies from any Gulf Cooperation Council country from entering Kuwait without visas.

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Israel’s Deputy PM Hopes Camp of Radicals, Including Hizbullah, will be Defeated

Israel's deputy Prime Minister, Dan Meridor, has hoped that “the camp of the radicals” that includes Hizbullah would be defeated in the region.

Dan Meridor, who is also Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Prague that Egyptian protesters' demands for freedom and free election were positive.

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U.S. Cable: King Hamad Said Bahrainis Trained by Hizbullah

Bahrain’s King Hamad said that Bahrainis were receiving training from Hizbullah in Lebanon, although he admitted he had no definitive proof, a secret diplomatic cable released by whistleblower WikiLeaks noted.

The cable was published by the British newspaper The Guardian.

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Israel Puts Embassies on High Alert on Mughniyeh Murder Anniversary

Israel has put its embassies on high alert, fearing they could come under attack, after identifying suspicious activities around some of them, Israel's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"Unusual occurrences have been identified recently around a few Israeli missions abroad. Our assessment, at this point, is that these sites are under threat, and this is being taken care of," it said in a statement.

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Barak from Lebanon Border: Israeli Army May Return to Lebanon in the Future

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that the Israeli army may be called into Lebanon in the future, reported Haaretz on Tuesday.

He made his statements during his first military tour with new the new Israeli army Chief of Staff Major General Benny Gantz along Israel’s northern border.

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Jumblat Preparing a “Clear, Sarcastic, and Decisive” Statement in Response to February 14 Speeches

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat is expected to issue a “clear, sarcastic, and decisive” statement in response to everything that was said about him since the start of the parliamentary consultations and to the speeches that were delivered during Monday’s ceremony commemorating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, reported Al-Akhbar on Tuesday.

He also addressed in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine the recent revolt in Egypt, saying: “The Egyptian people are heading towards freedom after long years of tyranny under the previous regime.”

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Spain Adopts Wait-and-See Approach On Cabinet Decisions

The Spanish ambassador, Juan Carlos Gavo, reiterated on Tuesday that the Lebanese government should include all political parties and respect Security Council resolutions.

Following talks with Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel, Gavo said: “I reiterated to Gemayel our stance from the formation of the cabinet, which should represent all political parties.”

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Bassil Says March 14 was Transformed into a ‘Subversive Opposition’

Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil slammed what he called the “subversive opposition” of the March 14 forces, accusing them of committing “national treason.”

Bassil said speeches made by March 14 officials during ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s sixth assassination anniversary in BIEL on Monday were a sign that the coalition was putting conditions that contradict with March 8 stances.

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Ashton in Beirut on Wednesday to Inquire About Lebanon’s Commitment to Tribunal

The European Union's top diplomat Catherine Ashton will visit Lebanon on Wednesday as part of a broader Middle East trip, a source at Lebanon's foreign ministry told German Press Agency dpa.

She is due to meet with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Premier-designate Najib Miqati and Caretaker Minister Ali al-Shami during her four-hour visit.

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