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Parliament Gives Lebanon Right to Explore Maritime Resources

Parliament approved on Thursday a draft law on the delineation of Lebanon’s maritime border after introducing an amendment to article 6, two days after the cabinet’s adoption of the decree.

The adoption of the law comes amid a dispute between Lebanon and Israel over their maritime boundary. Both countries are moving to assert sovereignty over an area potentially rich in gas.

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Suleiman Stresses on Dialogue, Lebanon’s International Commitments

President Michel Suleiman moved to his summer residence in Beiteddine for three weeks, while his consultations with top officials over the dialogue are ongoing, including talks with Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

Wissam Baroudi, the president’s son-in-law, told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that the president used his constitutional right concerning the formation of the cabinet.

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Report: Turkey Seizes Iranian Arms Smuggled to Syria, Hizbullah

Turkish authorities have seized an Iranian arms shipment heading to Syria and was meant for Hizbullah, a German newspaper reported Thursday.

The Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Turkish security forces stopped a convoy of trucks carrying a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in the south-central city of Kilis, which is adjacent to the Syrian border.

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Hundreds Demonstrate in Tripoli Against Syria Crackdown

Hundreds of Islamists held a protest in the northern port city of Tripoli after the Tarawih prayers on Wednesday night to condemn Syria’s deadly crackdown on protestors calling for reform.

Islamist and Salafist groups, in addition to al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah and Hizb ut-Tahrir held the demonstration in Tripoli’s Abi Samra neighborhood in support of the Syrian people.

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March 14: Lebanon’s Disavowal of U.N. Statement on Syria is ‘Disgraceful’

Lebanon’s disavowal of a U.N. Security Council statement condemning Syria's deadly attacks on civilians is “shameful,” high-ranking March 14 sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Thursday that “despite the unanimity of the other 14 members of the Security Council on the statement, Lebanon’s disavowal is a shameful and disgraceful stance.”

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Lebanon Disavows U.N. Statement Condemning Syria‎

Lebanon "disassociated" itself Wednesday from a U.N. Security Council statement condemning Syria's crackdown on opposition protests.

Lebanon’s envoy told a council meeting that the statement would not "help" end the Syrian crisis.

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Bellemare Examining Material Handed by Hizbullah to Mirza on July 13

The office of Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare is currently examining material hand-delivered by Hizbullah officials to Lebanon’s State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza on July 13, 2011, Bellemare’s office said in a statement Wednesday.

Hizbullah, for its part, issued a statement later on Wednesday in which it confirmed the delivery of the material to Mirza but noted that that happened at the state prosecutor’s “personal request.”

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Draft Law on Demarcation of Border Distributed among MPs during Parliament Session

Parliament approved on Wednesday 25 draft laws and agreements out of 67 items during its first meeting since the new government received the vote of confidence.

The delineation of Lebanon’s maritime border was absent from the session, but a draft law on the matter was distributed among the MPs.

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Miqati after Closed-Door Meeting with Berri: We Will Be Held Accountable for Every Action

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held a closed-door meeting on Wednesday with Speaker Nabih Berri to assess the parliament session that was held earlier.

He said: “We will be held accountable for every action we commit and the new cabinet has not been criticized for any procedure it has taken since it received the vote of confidence.”

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March 14 Urges International Community to ‘Take Necessary Measures to Halt Bloodshed in Syria’

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday “the massacres against the Syrian people,” while saluting their perseverance against “brutality”.

It urged in a statement after its weekly meeting “the international community to take the necessary procedures to stop the bloodshed against Syrian civilians.”

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