The March 14 forces are weighing the possibility of withdrawing Lebanon’s Ambassador to Syria, Michel Khoury, in light of the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership at the organization, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.
A prominent March 14 source told the daily that the forces are also mulling the possibility of suggesting the expulsion of the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdul Karim Ali.
Full StoryFrance is keen that Lebanon state its clear position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, whether it is positive or negative, revealed French diplomatic sources to the daily al-Mustaqbal Sunday.
They added that the ties between the two countries will remain the same until Lebanon reveals its stance on the tribunal.
Full StoryThe United States has warned Lebanon against incurring negative consequences of the developments in Syria, especially regarding the Syrian refugees who have fled to Lebanon, reported the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper on Sunday.
Diplomatic sources explained that Lebanon should not hand over the refugees to Syria.
Full StoryPresident Michel Suleiman stressed on Sunday that Lebanon did not oppose the decisions of the Arab League, saying that it refuses the isolation of any country.
He said: “I call on Syrian President Bashar Assad to implement the Arab League initiative.”
Full StoryFormer Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Saturday that he is ashamed of the Lebanese government position at the Arab League meeting, noting that the decision taken by the Arab foreign ministers will not affect Lebanon’s security.
“I am ashamed as a Lebanese of the government’s position in the Arab league and I ask the Syrian people not to consider this as the will of the Lebanese,” Hariri said on Twitter fielding questions from his supporters.
Full StoryMaronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed on Saturday a report published in ad-Diya newspaper, describing it as a “false” report aimed at misleading the public opinion.
Al-Rahi wondered during a meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun how a newspaper would “publish such a false report?”
Full StoryLebanon voted on Saturday against a decision taken by the Arab foreign ministers to suspend Syria’s membership in the Arab League.
18 countries agreed to the decision, while Lebanon, Yemen and Syria voted against it and Iraq abstained.
Full StoryResidents of the southern town of Abbasiyyeh clashed with UNIFIL’s Spanish contingent after it prevented them from reaching their fields for not carrying permits, the National News Agency reported Saturday.
NNA said that the Spanish contingent prevented several residents from reaching their homes and olive groves in an area near a UNIFIL base, saying they did not have permits that would allow them to enter the territory abutting the border.
Full StoryThe March 14-led opposition general-secretariat coordinator Fares Soaid called on Saturday the cabinet to offer help to the Syrian refugees and warned the authorities against harassing residents of Wadi Khaled for offering them shelter.
“We demand (the Lebanese authorities) to provide the Syrian refugees with a secure shelter and crucial human services,” Soaid said during a press conference.
Full StoryIn an unprecedented initiative, President Michel Suleiman is scheduled to address the nation on the eve of Lebanon’s 68th independence anniversary from the citadel of Rashaya in the town of Rashaya al-Wadi.
An Nahar daily said Saturday that around 100 political, social and spiritual personalities are expected to attend the ceremony inside the citadel on November 21.
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