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Saniora Says al-Mustaqbal Wants Polls to be Held on Time to Get Rid of Hizbullah, Syria

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora said Wednesday the parliamentary elections should be held on time to prevent Hizbullah and the Syrian regime from keeping their stranglehold on Lebanon.

In a televised statement on the eve of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's 8th assassination anniversary, Saniora said: “We insist on holding the elections on time to renew the trust in Lebanon and to achieve democratic change to get rid of this group that is keeping its stranglehold on Lebanon's economy and preventing its development.”

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Criminal Complaint against Saudi Daily over al-Rahi Caricature

A lawyer filed a criminal complaint against the Saudi al-Watan newspaper on Wednesday for publishing a caricature criticizing Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's visit to Syria.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said attorney Wadih Aql filed the complaint with the general prosecutor’s office against the newspaper's publisher, its editor-in-chief and the caricaturist, Jihad Awrati.

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Al-Rahi Hails Pope's Resignation Decision, Says it Sets an Example to All

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi praised on Wednesday Pope Benedict XVI's resignation decision, considering that his announcement left a “positive shock in the hearts.”

Describing him as an “ideal leader,” al-Rahi said: “The pope is giving us a great example about faith and modesty.”

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Warrants for 2 Arsal Ambush Suspects, Qahwaji Dubs Attackers 'Terrorists'

Military Examining Magistrate Fadi Sawan issued on Wednesday arrest warrants against two suspects involved in the ambush of a military patrol in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Sawan issued the warrants against Mustafa Ali al-Hujairi and Hassan Mohammed al-Hujairi after questioning them.

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Protesters in North Block Syrian Fuel Tankers from Entering Syria

The residents of northern border towns blocked the roads that lead to Syria on Wednesday to prevent fuel tanker trucks from crossing into the country, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said protesters from the town of Arida that has a crossing with Syria blocked the international highway with rocks and barbed wires in the morning over the alleged smuggling of oil and diesel. They reopened it around 2:00 pm after MP Moeen al-Merehbi negotiated with them.

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Cabinet Forms Committee to Establish Electoral Authority

The cabinet formed on Wednesday a committee headed by Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi to study the establishment of the independent authority overseeing the elections.

“The committee includes two judicial figures,” Information Minister Walid al-Daouq told reporters after the session that was held at the Baabda Palace.

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Report: New Oil, Gas Reserves Discovered Off Northern Lebanon

New oil reserves were found off Lebanon's shore along it's northern maritime boundary with Cyprus and Syria, which could generate billions of dollars.

According to a report published by Beicip Franlab, a French consultant, there are around 440 million barrels of oil in the area and the quantity could reach 675 million barrels.

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Berri Rebukes Miqati for Allegedly Supporting 1960 Electoral Law

Speaker Nabih Berri has admonished Prime Minister Najib Miqati during a telephone conversation on his alleged support for the 1960 electoral law that is based on a winner-takes-all system, As Safir daily reported on Wednesday.

During their conversation on Tuesday night, Berri asked Miqati whether he is supporting the 1960 law and has backed off from a government draft-law referred to the parliament last summer that calls for dividing Lebanon into 13 districts based on a proportional representation system.

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Israel: Calling Hizbullah a Charity is Like Dubbing Qaida an Urban Planner

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has criticized the European Union for regarding Hizbullah as a legitimate political organization, urging it to designate the party a terrorist party.

“Calling Hizbullah a charity is like calling al-Qaida an urban-planning organization because of its desire to level tall buildings,” Ambassador Ron Prosor told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday in an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

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Harb Denies Links to Bekaa Hashish Incident, Says to Pursue those who Impersonate him

March 14 MP Butros Harb denied overnight reports that two men detained for the possession of hashish, were his bodyguards, pointing out that he is holding on to his right to prosecute any person who “impersonates" him.

“MP Harb denies that any of his staff members or bodyguards use drugs. The MP was surprised with the news,” a statement issued by his press office on Tuesday night said.

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