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Aoun: No Unrest Will Take Place if Elections Not Held due to March 14 Camp's Obstruction

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun slammed on Tuesday the March 14 camp's obstruction of parliamentary work, accusing the “minority of practicing a dictatorship” in Lebanon.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “I assure the people that no unrest will take place if the parliamentary elections are not staged due to the March 14 camp's obstruction.”

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U.S. Reporter Says Syria's Shabiha Wanted to Take him to 'Hizbullah Stronghold'

U.S. journalist Richard Engel, who was freed after being held hostage for five days in Syria, said Tuesday that his captors were taking him to an alleged Hizbullah stronghold when he was set free by rebels.

"This was a group known as the shabiha. This is a government militia. They are loyal to President (Bashar) Assad," Engel said about his captors.

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U.S. Names ex-Minister Samaha 'Global Terrorist'

The United States on Monday named former information minister Michel Samaha a "specially designated global terrorist" for allegedly aiding the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad to launch attacks in Lebanon.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a statement saying that Samaha, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13441 which targets persons "undermining Lebanese sovereignty, including those who are supporting attempts by the Assad regime to incite violence inside Lebanon", is now a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under E.O. 13224.

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Clashes in Egypt on Eve of Divisive Referendum

Stone-throwing clashes broke out Friday in the Egyptian city of Alexandria between Islamists and opposition protesters, on the eve of a highly charged referendum on a new constitution, witnesses and state media said.

Fifteen people were wounded, according to medics, and several cars set on fire in the violence in the Mediterranean city, Egypt's second largest.

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Aoun Slams Govt. Failure to Complete Projects: Jal el-Dib Bridge Should Have Been Done by now

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun criticized on Tuesday the government's failure to follow up on various development projects in Lebanon, including the completion of the Jal el-Dib bridge.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “The bridge should have been completed by now.”

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3 Killed in Medical Helicopter Crash in U.S. 

U.S. authorities said a medical helicopter has crashed in northern Illinois, killing all three people on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported the helicopter crashed Monday night while traveling from Rockford, near the Wisconsin border, to a hospital about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south in Mendota.

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Army Begins Implementing Security Plan in Tripoli after Sunday Clashes Kill 6, Wound 40

The army on Sunday deployed heavily in the Tripoli neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen and its entrances, ending the deployment of gunmen there, in the first phase of its plan to restore security in Tripoli, state-run National News Agency reported, after six people were killed and 40 others wounded on Sunday alone.

“The second phase will be the deployment of the army in Bab al-Tabbaneh and all the frontiers of the clashes,” NNA said.

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Corpses of 3 Fighters Killed in Tall Kalakh Returned to Lebanon

The corpses of three Lebanese fighters killed in Syria's Tall Kalakh were retrieved from Syria on Sunday.

The corpses were returned to Lebanon through the Arida border-crossing in the North.

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Morsi Calls for Dialogue on Saturday, Says Referendum Will Be Held on Time

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi announced on Thursday that the referendum on the constitutional decree will not be cancelled or postponed, calling on all parties and political figures in the country to join him in a dialogue session on Saturday at the presidential palace.

“The upcoming referendum will decide the constitutional amendment’s fate,” Morsi said in a speech he gave, adding that he will not insist on keeping this decree if an accord is reached with parties that oppose it.

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Tripoli Death Toll Hits 7 as Clashes Renew at Night and Army Arrests Gunmen

Clashes renewed on Wednesday evening in the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen after a brief lull, as the army made contacts with the warring parties and fired back at the sources of gunfire, especially sniper fire.

An Energa-type rifle-launched grenade fell in the vicinity of al-Mallouleh area and was followed by an exchange of gunfire between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, LBCI television reported.

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