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Soaid: Hariri to Declare Monday Shift to Opposition

Outgoing premier Saad Hariri will announce on Monday, the sixth anniversary of the assassination of his father ex-PM Rafik Hariri, his transition to the opposition camp, March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid said Sunday.

"The speech that will be delivered by Saad Hariri in the conference held by the March 14 forces tomorrow (Monday) will define the political shift and the new headlines of the upcoming period," Soaid told Agence France Presse.

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Qabbani before Hariri’s Grave: Developments in Lebanon are Result of the Assassination

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani stressed on Sunday that the current developments in Lebanon are a result of the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He said after visiting the slain premier’s grave in downtown Beirut along with a representative of the Druze spiritual leader, Ghandi Makarem: “Hariri was not like other leaders. He is not a man for Lebanon alone or for the Arabs or Muslims of the world, but he was a man of the world.”

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Arslan Praises Egyptian Revolt against Arab Zionism: I Repeat My Nomination of Jumblat to Interior Ministry

The head of the Lebanese Democratic Party Talal Arslan criticized on Sunday the sectarian division of positions in the legislative authority saying it is “another blow against the concept of a state of law.”

He said during a press conference: “Lebanon has never witnessed in its history such sectarian division such as the one taking place today.”

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Qaouq Refuses to Allow U.S. to Use STL as Weapon: Resistance Has Garnered Parliamentary Majority

Hizbullah official Nabil Qaouq stated on Sunday that the equation in Lebanon today has changed from what it was in the past seeing as the Resistance now enjoys a parliamentary and popular majority, adding that it refuses the United States’ employment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a weapon against the party.

He said during a ceremony commemorating the assassination of Hizbullah military commander Imad Mughniyeh: “The new government in Lebanon should help remove the country from the American minefield.”

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Hizbullah Informed Miqati its Refusal to Make References to STL in Ministerial Statement

Sources concerned with the formation of the new Cabinet revealed that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati was informed by Hizbullah that the party will reject any reference to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the new government’s ministerial statement, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat Sunday.

It said that the premier-designate was informed of this decision during a meeting with Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah that was held away from the media spotlight about a week ago.

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Nasrallah to Deliver Speech on Wednesday, Sami Shehab to Make Surprise Appearance

Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday during the party’s commemoration of its martyrs.

The speech is set to focus on local and Arab developments, most notably the recent events in Egypt.

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Miqati Focuses his Contacts towards March 14: 24-Minister Cabinet Will be Formed before February 20

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati stressed that he is maintaining his consultations in order to end disputes regarding the formation of a new government, adding that he will not commit to a certain deadline or a specific number of ministers in the new Cabinet.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Sunday: "At the end of the day, the main concern is establishing a government that ensures the people's trust and we will announce it once it is ready."

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Pivotal Speeches during Feb. 14 Memorial: Hariri-Miqati Reconciliation Won’t Alter Mustaqbal Stand towards Cabinet

The March 14 forces are set to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during a ceremony on Monday during which pivotal speeches on various levels will be made, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

As Safir stated on Sunday that the commemoration will be an occasion for the March 14 camp to “set its work strategy for the next phase in Lebanon” based on whether it will participate in Cabinet or not.

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Harb: March 14 Won’t Join Government Where It Has No Influence over Decisions

Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb on Saturday said the March 14 coalition will not take part in a government where it has no influence over decisions.

“March 14 is unwilling to enter into a political bazaar,” Harb said in an interview excerpt to be published Sunday.

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Berri's Son-in-Law Denies Involvement in Money Laundering

Ayman Zakaria Joumaa, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's son-in-law, on Saturday denied involvement in the Lebanese-Canadian Bank money laundering.

"I have nothing to do with Ayman Saeed Joumaa whose name was mentioned in the U.S. Treasury as being involved in money laundering," a statement by Ayman Zakaria Joumaa said.

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