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18 May 2013, 06:45 PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat held talks at his Clemenceau residence with Director of the North Africa and Middle East department at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jean-Francois Girault.
18 May 2013, 06:21 Security forces arrested 55 individuals throughout Lebanon for committing various crimes.
18 May 2013, 06:13 Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar to LF chief Samir Geagea and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun according to Free Lebanon radio: You must set all differences aside for the sake of the nation.
18 May 2013, 05:05 VDL (100.5): The army arrested three wanted suspects during raids in Tripoli's al-Baqqar neighborhood.
17 May 2013, 19:06 MTV: The army is reopening the Cola road after it was blocked with burning tires in protest at the arrest of Bilal Dahwish.
17 May 2013, 18:27 MP Serge Torsarkissian: Speaker Berri's proposal does not contain any standards, that's why we urge our colleagues to be realistic so that we can reach a result.
17 May 2013, 18:26 MP Serge Torsarkissian: Where is "constructive ambiguity" in adding a district to Ashrafiyeh with the aim of securing the win of March 8? We are also surprised when they said that without dividing Ashrafiyeh they would not agree to any solution.
17 May 2013, 18:23 MP Hagop Pakradonian: Non-Armenian parties cannot swap seats at our expense and I call on our allies and others to understand this point.
17 May 2013, 18:23 MP Hagop Pakradonian: The Armenian seats in Metn, Beirut and the Bekaa are not negotiable and they belong to their owners and to the Armenian parties.
17 May 2013, 18:22 MP Hagop Pakradonian: We cannot accept a second Doha Agreement and we are not the weak link.
17 May 2013, 18:21 MP Hagop Pakradonian: We were positive in the discussions and the 1960 law is behind us now and there is consensus on the hybrid law from the angle of proper Christian representation.
17 May 2013, 18:18 MP Alain Aoun: The distribution of seats and the discussion of Berri's proposal might lead to an agreement and this is the only solution in order to avoid the 1960 law or extension.
17 May 2013, 18:17 MP Alain Aoun: Berri said that he will raise his proposal for discussion again.
17 May 2013, 18:14 MP Alain Aoun: Is it acceptable to cancel the elections for the sake of certain figures?
17 May 2013, 18:13 MP Alain Aoun: We cannot divide Mount Lebanon in an absurd manner for the sake of the special status of the Druze which we respect, but this role must not be at the expense of Christians.
17 May 2013, 18:11 MP Alain Aoun: We're trying to avoid two bad options: extension and the 1960 law, that's why we're trying to start from a bad law that does not meet our aspirations in order to achieve amendments that can improve Christian representation.
17 May 2013, 18:09 MP Alain Aoun: The hybrid law is based on inconsistent standards and political ends that are obvious in many of its points.
17 May 2013, 18:08 Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad: The amendments we suggested are based on scientific and objective standards.
17 May 2013, 18:07 Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad: We realize the gravity of the situation and we urge everyone to rise above any sensitivities that might impede reaching an agreement. We will maintain our contacts in a bid to reach consensus and we're in a state of permanent communication with our allies. We must avoid vacuum and hold elections on time or as soon as possible.
17 May 2013, 18:05 Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad: Sidon, Bsharri and Batroun were excluded from the proportional representation system, and we suggested that one of the two MPs be elected under proportional representation but we have not reached a result. However, we will not spare any effort aimed at moving forward and we hope there will be a consensual proposal for all the Lebanese.
17 May 2013, 18:04 Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad: We gave the proposal a chance despite all the aforementioned remarks and we tried to introduce some essential amendments, but only a few amendments were accepted and the largest part of amendments has not been approved until the moment.
17 May 2013, 18:03 Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad: The hybrid law is the most bizarre law I have ever witnessed, it lacks consistency and it is extremely selective. MPs would be elected according to the winner-takes-all system in places where March 14 is strong and according to proportional representation in electorates where March 14 is weak.
17 May 2013, 18:02 Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayyad: We would have prefered if Berri's formula was discussed further.
17 May 2013, 18:01 MP Sami Gemayel: We call for holding a plenary session and putting all laws to a vote and let each party choose the law it wants.
17 May 2013, 18:01 MP Sami Gemayel: Everyone must show positivity in order to achieve proper representation for everyone.
17 May 2013, 18:00 MP Sami Gemayel: We have to put objective standards instead of deciding who will win in advance or deciding who will the 128 MPs be.
17 May 2013, 17:59 MP Sami Gemayel: No one must take their interests into consideration while seeking an electoral law, but must rather follow a unified standard that applies to everyone regardless of the final result.
17 May 2013, 17:59 MP Sami Gemayel: We said in the meeting that we cannot have a law that contains a selective approach and we cannot consider that certain electorates cannot be modified because such an approach cannot lead to an electoral law.
17 May 2013, 17:58 MP Sami Gemayel: Everyone is exerting efforts to reach the desired solution.
17 May 2013, 17:57 MP Sami Gemayel: We cannot allow a return to the war era by extending parliament's mandate and we cannot return to the 1960 law.
17 May 2013, 17:51 MP George Adwan: The LF urged Speaker Berri to hold a session for endorsing consensus.
17 May 2013, 17:49 MP Ahmed Fatfat: We're in continuous and full contact with the Phalange Party and we consider ourselves to be one team.
17 May 2013, 17:48 MP Ahmed Fatfat: Speaker Berri has pledged that political balance will always be preserved and we consider this an achievement.
17 May 2013, 17:47 MP Ahmed Fatfat: The Phalange Party did not raise the issue of dividing Beirut, but rather the South and the North, and we agreed to that but we received a strict answer that the South will not be divided.
17 May 2013, 17:46 MP Ahmed Fatfat: We will only accept extension if it is a technical extension for a very short period that does not exceed five months.
17 May 2013, 17:45 MP Ahmed Fatfat: We will carry on with defending the hybrid law as a long-term law that paves the ground for national ties and proper representation and we don't mind discussing any amendments.
17 May 2013, 17:44 MP Ahmed Fatfat: We categorically reject the 1960 law and reject that elections be held under it and we believe that only the hybrid law can pull the country out of the current dilemma.
17 May 2013, 17:36 Future TV: The parliamentary subcommittee will reconvene at noon Saturday.
17 May 2013, 17:03 Caretaker Interior Minister Charbel to Future TV: We will implement the 1960 law if no new law was reached because a law can only be annulled through another law.
17 May 2013, 16:43 Caretaker Labor Minister Jreissati to al-Manar: The basis for government's work is parliament's confidence and extension would happen through a new law and it is legitimate because it would allow the implementation of a new electoral law.
17 May 2013, 16:11 Development and Liberation bloc MP Ali Khreis: The last meeting of the parliamentary subcommittee was not positive and until the moment things are not encouraging and I urge all parties to offer concessions in a order to reach a result.
17 May 2013, 15:19 OTV quoting MP Alain Aoun: We're against extension and they have to decide whether they want a national plan or a vote plan that is tailored to fit their interests.
17 May 2013, 15:18 Ex-PM Hariri denied as baseless reports claiming that he is conducting secret talks with Hizbullah with the aim of returning to Lebanon.
17 May 2013, 15:11 LBCI: The parliamentary subcommittee has reconvened.
17 May 2013, 15:10 LBCI: Indications suggest that the subcommittee's members have become convinced that extension is inevitable and the discussion is over the period.
17 May 2013, 15:08 LBCI: Fatfat called for holding a plenary session and putting to a vote the formula of the hybrid law that was reached with the LF and the PSP, noting that it enjoys a majority of votes.
17 May 2013, 15:08 LBCI: During the subcommittee's meeting, a proposal was made to divide the North into two districts, one Muslim and one Christian, prompting Fatfat to demand the division of the South and Gemayel made a similar proposal, but they were rejected by Berri.
17 May 2013, 15:08 OTV quoting MP Akram Shehayyeb: No to a plenary session without substance and the most important thing is to avoid political vacuum.
17 May 2013, 15:04 LBCI quoting Phalange Party leader Gemayel: Speaker Berri must call for a plenary session and let democracy prevail and everyone vote the way they like.
17 May 2013, 14:54 MTV quoting MP Fatfat: We're against elections under the 1960 law, but should we submit our nominations, the aim would be to prevent the uncontested win of the candidates who have already nominated themselves.
17 May 2013, 14:36 Patriarch al-Rahi from Colombia: The country's interest is bigger than everyone and failing to reach a new electoral law would harm Lebanon's image.
17 May 2013, 13:39 MTV: Berri told Salam that he would have to form a broad cabinet that gathers everyone if elections were postponed.
17 May 2013, 13:09 LBCI quoting Berri: There will be no session for the parliament if no consensus is reached.
17 May 2013, 13:09 Speaker Berri: Extension after May 31 requires an extraordinary parliamentary session.
17 May 2013, 13:05 OTV quoting Speaker Berri: I do not want to extend the parliament's term, not even for a single day.
17 May 2013, 13:04 MTV quoting Speaker Berri: I was worried about what is happening in the region and I have always said I will go with consensus. The electoral law discussed at the moment is not based on any fixed criteria.
17 May 2013, 12:54 MTV: March 8's most important remarks are related to the districts of Beirut and the need to follow the same standards in all electorates.
17 May 2013, 12:53 MTV: March 8 MPs are awaiting answers from Adwan and Fatfat to their remarks.
17 May 2013, 12:50 LBCI: The meeting of the parliamentary subcommittee has been adjourned to 6:00 p.m.
17 May 2013, 12:45 U.S. Central Command chief Lloyd Austin met President Suleiman and Army chief Qahwaji, describing the Lebanese army as the “sole legitimate defense force” and stressing the importance of its role in securing Lebanon’s borders.
17 May 2013, 12:36 Hassan Khalil after leaving parliamentary subcommittee meeting: Everyone is seeking a consensual formula over the hybrid law and no one has discussed the option or idea of extension until now.
17 May 2013, 12:16 Berri's sources to MTV: If the conferees don't agree on an electoral law or on extension, tomorrow's session might be called off.
17 May 2013, 12:12 Speaker Berri during meeting of parliamentary subcommittee: Either we agree on an electoral law or we agree on extension, or else we'll definitely go to elections under the 1960 law.
17 May 2013, 10:48 The electoral subcommittee resumed its meeting at parliament.
17 May 2013, 10:46 Al-Jadeed: President Michel Suleiman voiced calls to form a new electoral law instead of wasting opportunities on political bickering
17 May 2013, 09:59 ISF detained 66 people for committing various crimes throughout Lebanese territories.
17 May 2013, 09:49 Lloyd James Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), arrived in Beirut at the head of a military delegation.
17 May 2013, 09:38 VDL (100.5): The March 8 lawmakers are holding a meeting to coordinate their stances ahead of the electoral subcommittee meeting.
17 May 2013, 09:35 Ali Hassan Khalil to Free Lebanon Radio: We are seeking to hold the parliamentary elections as extending the mandate of the parliament isn't an option.
17 May 2013, 09:17 Zahra: We are trying to increase the number of Christian MPs, while preserving the country's identify.
17 May 2013, 09:10 Zahra: We will vote for the Orthodox Gathering law if we fail to reach an agreement over a law. We will vote for it even though we know that it cannot be implemented.
17 May 2013, 09:07 Zahra: The dispute with the FPM does not revolve around the electoral law, but about making political gains.
17 May 2013, 09:06 Zahra: The Orthodox Gathering law was dropped by Berri in order to allow reaching an agreement over a consensual electoral law, not one that divides the people.
17 May 2013, 09:05 Zahra: As part of the LF, which represents that majority of Christians in Lebanon, we declare that those who want to fortify their country should not only seek their own interests, but those of the rest of the partners in Lebanon.
17 May 2013, 09:04 Zahra: The FPM is misleading the public and conducting its actions in a vulgar manner. It is trying to politically eliminate the LF.
17 May 2013, 09:03 Zahra: The FPM is promising the people with a paradise that cannot be achieved.
17 May 2013, 09:00 Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra from parliament: We believe this press conference is necessary in order to confront the media campaign against the LF that is being waged by some leading members of cabinet.
17 May 2013, 08:19 LBCI: One person was killed and three wounded in a fire that broke out in a car garage in the town of al-Haysa in Akkar.
17 May 2013, 08:06 Mustaqbal MP Nabil de Freij from parliament: Should they fail to agree on a new electoral law, I urge Speaker Nabih Berri and the MPs to hold the elections based on the current active law and raising the number of lawmakers by six.
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