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Bassil Lauds Geagea's Stance, Says it is a 'Historic Moment'

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil lauded Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea's stance in balancing fair representation in the next parliamentary elections with the problematic issue of disarmament, describing Geagea's position as “historic.”

“We might have doubted the stances of the Lebanese Forces before, but not anymore,” said Bassil, a member of the March 8 Free Patriotic Movement, in an interview to the al-Akhbar daily Thursday.

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Jumblat Reiterates Rejection of Electoral Law that Causes More 'National Divide'

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Thursday expressed understanding of Christian fears from demographic changes but reiterated his warning from an electoral draft-law that causes further sectarian divisions among the Lebanese.

In remarks to As Safir daily, Jumblat said: “We understand the Christian worries from the demographic change but it is unacceptable to confront the minimum level of consensus” reached among different factions in return “for a law that would further cause national divide.”

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One Injured as Cement Truck Falls off Nahr al-Mot Bridge

One person was injured on Wednesday when a cement truck fell off the bridge near the Nahr al-Mot highway, north of Beirut, Lebanese Red Cross Operations Director George Kettaneh said.

The driver of the truck was wounded when he lost control of his vehicle and fell on a taxi parked underneath the bridge, he said.

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Geagea Stresses 'Nothing Could Separate' him from al-Mustaqbal

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has reportedly stressed that “nothing could separate” him from his al-Mustaqbal movement ally in the March 14 opposition alliance.

“Nothing and no one can separate us and we are keen on our ties with al-Mustaqbal movement as much as we have keenness on the best representation (guaranteed by) an electoral draft-law,” Geagea's visitors quoted him as saying.

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Report: Qahwaji to Visit France to Discuss Military Aid

Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji is scheduled to visit Paris this weekend to appeal for military aid and discuss ways to improve cooperation between the two countries, al-Joumhouria reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said that Qahwaji's official visit at the head of a delegation will include talks with top French military officials on measures to provide aid to the Lebanese army.

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Source: Lebanon to Ask for $270 million in Kuwait Conference on Syria Refugees

Lebanon will ask for 270 million dollars during a donor conference in Kuwait on January 30 to meet the demands of refugees escaping the violence in Syria, a ministerial source said Thursday.

The source told An Nahar newspaper that only 60 million dollars have been so far donated by some European countries.

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Meqdad Denies Death of Abu Ibrahim: Efforts Are Ongoing to Release Lebanese Pilgrims

The Free Syrian Army denied on Wednesday the death of the abductor of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims in Syria.

"Abu Ibrahim is still alive and he is being treated from a minor injury in a Turkish hospital,” FSA's Political and Media Coordinator Louay Meqdad told Future television.

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Miqati Says Resigning Leads to Chaos: Elections and New Cabinet afterwards Safeguard Stability

Prime Minister Najib Miqati said on Wednesday that he is not considering any resignation of his cabinet in the time being because it might lead to a political crisis in Lebanon.

"Considering Syria's current situation, any miscalculated step might lead to complete chaos in Lebanon,” Miqati said in an interview with al-Arabiya television.

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Two Shells Detonate, Unexploded Stun Grenade Found in Abu Samra

Two stun grenades exploded on Wednesday in Abu Samra neighborhood in the northern city of Tripoli and the army found another unexploded shell in the region, the National News Agency reported.

“The explosions were followed by heavy gunfire in Abu Samra,” the NNA added.

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Electoral Subcommittee Ends Discussions without Agreement and Fatfat, Aoun Strongly Dispute

The electoral subcommittee on Wednesday ended its meetings dedicated to discussing the suggestions for the parliamentary elections' law without reaching an accord on a preferred proposal.

“The joint parliamentary committees will convene next Tuesday to tackle the subcommittee report and refer it to Speaker Nabih Berri,” MP Robert Ghanem said after the talks, explaining that the lawmakers have reached conclusions over a number of issues about the electoral law, tackling the hybrid proposal in particular.

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