Lebanon
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1 Killed, 5 Hurt, Including Lebanese Soldier, in Firing from Syria into Lebanon as Pope Calls for End to Bloodshed

The deadly unrest in Syria spilled over into Lebanon where a woman was killed at a border crossing as protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime entered a third month on Sunday.

Gunfire from Syria raked a crowd at al-Boqaia crossing near the town of Wadi Khaled, killing the Syrian woman and wounding five people including a Lebanese soldier, a Lebanese security official and an AFP correspondent said.

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Miqati’s Brother Visits Damascus: It is Distancing Itself from Meddling in Government Formation

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s brother, Taha, visited Damascus on Wednesday where he met with Syrian officials, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Sources told the daily: “The Syrian officials voiced their relief that an agreement was reached over who will assume the Interior Ministry and Damascus supports Miqati’s position of hanging on to his privileges in forming the government.”

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Al-Rahi ahead of Traveling to Rome: We Will Not Back Down from What Was Agreed upon at Bkirki Summit

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Sunday that Christians and Muslims in Lebanon share the same fate, “they either survive together or die together.”

He said before his trip to Rome where he will participate in the Middle East Synod: “We will not back down from what was agreed upon at the Bkirki summit.”

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Suleiman: I Haven’t Demanded Anything and Others Should be Questioned over Delay in Cabinet Formation

President Michel Suleiman stressed that there are no more disagreements over the government formation now that the dispute over the Interior Ministry has been resolved, adding that other sides are responsible for creating obstacles.

He said: “Some sides believe that they are entitled to the Defense, Health, and Education portfolios that they will demand ten ministries, including nine portfolios.”

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Berri: Government Formation Has Become More Complicated

Speaker Nabih Berri stated on Saturday that the government formation process has become more complicated, saying that a government will not be formed any time soon.

He told al-Jadeed television: “We reached a solution, but then we regressed.”

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Aoun: Suleiman has No Right to Demand Any Portfolio

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Saturday that President Michel Suleiman “does not have the right to demand any government portfolio because he was elected as a neutral figure … which is a joke as there is no such thing in any country.

He added that the president does not even have a share in parliament.

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More Syrians Cross into Northern Lebanon, 1 Dies at Hospital

Hundreds of Syrians, including four wounded people, have crossed into northern Lebanon fleeing violence in the Syrian town of Tall Kalakh, Lebanese security officials said Saturday.

The officials said the wounded who crossed the border into the Wadi Khaled area included a 26-year-old man who suffered a gunshot in his back and two women, also with bullet wounds. The fourth, a 30-year-old man, died of his wounds later at a north Lebanon hospital. The other three were being treated at two hospitals in the area, they said.

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Juppe Fears the Syrian Uprising Would Impact Lebanon

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called the Lebanese to speed up the formation of the cabinet in order to guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

“Keeping our contacts with our Lebanese allies” is our sole key to help in the cabinet formation, Juppe said in an interview with pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published on Saturday.

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Geagea Accuses Hizbullah, Syria of Forming Confrontational Cabinet

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said on Saturday that the main parties involved in the cabinet formation, especially Hizbullah and Syria, want a confrontational government.

“Hizbullah and Syria are heading towards a confrontational cabinet, while President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Najib Miqati want a cabinet that is closest possible to the Lebanese reality,” Geagea told Free Lebanon radio.

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Maqdah Says Nakba Day March Peaceful, as UNIFIL Stresses Army Responsible for Security

Thousands of Palestinians are expected to march to southern Lebanon on Sunday in what Fatah commander Munir Maqdah said would be a “peaceful” rally marking the Palestinian "Nakba Day."

The protestors will mark the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba, or catastrophe, when Palestinians were expelled from their land in 1948 following Israel's establishment.

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