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Two Killed, Four Wounded in Family Dispute in Bekaa

Two people were killed on Friday in a family dispute in the town of Saida near the city of Zahle in the Bekaa.

The ongoing clash broke out between the Bedouin families of Au Jabal and al-Loues.

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Hariri: Latest Developments Require us to Rise above Personal Interests to End Division

Hariri: Govt. Has Abandoned its Duties so All Forces Must Rise above Personal Interests to End Division

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri noted on Friday that Eid al-Fitr arrives in Lebanon this year as it is facing dangers that are threatening its sovereignty and security.

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Geagea: Recent Events Result of Syrian Regime Disappointment with Suleiman, Miqati over Samaha Arrest

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused on Friday the Syrian regime of being behind the recent instability in Lebanon, saying that it is “upset with the Lebanese government for its failure to properly support it during its crisis.”

He added during a press conference: “The Syrian regime is disappointed with President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati over the arrest of former minister and MP Michel Samaha.”

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Fabius Says Latest Incidents in Lebanon Facilitate Spill over of Syrian Crisis

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday that the latest security incidents and kidnappings in Lebanon facilitate the spill over of the Syrian crisis to the country.

“The latest incidents in Lebanon facilitate the spill over of the Syrian crisis but we hope to find a solution to this situation,” Fabius said at Rafik Hariri International Airport following a two-day visit to Beirut.

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Report: Hizbullah Maintains Strong Network in Canada

Hizbullah has been able to maintain a strong network of agents in Canada who were able to purchase weapons on the open market and send them to Lebanon, a report published by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said.

“The group has built a significant pool of members, supporters and sympathizers in the country,” the think tank said.

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Lebanese Businessman Kidnapped in Aramoun, Man Abducted in Mdeirej

Unknown assailants demanded on Friday a one-million-dollar ransom in exchange for the release of businessman Raja al-Zuhairi, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

According to NNA, the kidnappers contacted the father-in-law of al-Zuhairi demanding him to pay the ransom.

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U.S. Concerned over Kidnappings in Lebanon

The United States has expressed deep concern on the Syrian civil war’s spill over into Lebanon and called on all sides to exercise restraint following a string of kidnappings.

“We are deeply concerned about spillover from the Syrian crisis that could impact on the stability, on the sovereignty of Lebanon, and we firmly condemn kidnapping as a tactic,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Thursday.

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Another Turkish Citizen Kidnapped in Lebanon

A Turkish man became the second foreigner to be kidnapped in Lebanon since al-Meqdad clan and another obscure group went on an abduction spree of Syrians and Turkish nationals on Wednesday to pressure the Free Syrian Army in releasing a member of the clan.

The National News Agency said Friday that Abd Basset Orssolane was abducted in the area of Choueifat near the Coca Cola factory.

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Charbel Says Government Didn’t Fail in Attempts to Resolve Abduction Cases

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel shrugged off criticism on Friday that the Lebanese government failed in dealing with the cases of the kidnapped Lebanese in Syria.

“It sought to resolve the matter calmly and requested help from everyone to resolve the case,” Charbel told al-Liwaa newspaper.

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Heated Argument between Saniora, Raad over Arms and Abductions

A national dialogue session held at Beiteddine palace on Thursday was marred by a dispute between al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader Fouad Saniora and Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad on the party’s arsenal.

During the session, Saniora said illegitimate weapons were responsible for the series of abductions of Syrians and allegedly a Turkish national by al-Meqdad clan to demand the release of Hassan al-Meqdad, who was kidnapped by Free Syrian Army members in Syria earlier this week.

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