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Hizbullah Mulls Stance on Aoun's Initiative, March 8 Says Constitutional Amendments 'Impossible'

Hizbullah is mulling its stance from the initiative that its ally Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun proposed recently, as March 8 coalition considers that it's impossible to carry out any constitutional amendment amid the ongoing presidential vacancy.

Sources close to Hizbullah told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday that the party will discuss Aoun's proposal before taking a final stance.

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Berri to Hold Talks with MPs to Discuss Presidential, Parliamentary Polls

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that he would hold consultations with the heads of blocs and independent MPs to find ways to resolve the presidential deadlock and prepare for the parliamentary elections.

“The parliamentary polls are approaching amid a dead end” on the presidential elections, Berri told his visitors.

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Fears of Extremism Rise in Lebanon, Muslim Nations

Fears about Islamic extremism are rising in Lebanon and other large Muslim populations from the Middle East to South Asia and support for radical groups is on the slide, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Concern about extremism has increased in the past 12 months amid the dragging war in Syria and attacks by Nigeria's Boko Haram militants, the Pew Research Center found after interviewing more than 14,200 people in 14 countries.

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Mustaqbal on Aoun's Proposal: Constitutional Amendments Require Time, Electing President is Priority

Al-Mustaqbal bloc on Tuesday considered that introducing any constitutional amendment requires time and favorable conditions, while the priority now is for electing a new president.

“Any MP or political party has the right to call for amending the constitution...but constitutional amendments that tackle important issues need time and favorable conditions while the country now needs electing a president quickly amid the regional developments,” the bloc said in a released statement after the weekly meeting of its MPs at the Center House.

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Abdullah Azzam Brigades Threaten Hizbullah with 'Successive Rounds of Terrorism'

The Qaida-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades on Tuesday demanded Hizbullah to withdraw from Syria “before it is too late,” vowing to carry out “successive terrorist acts until security is restored” in the war-torn neighboring country.

"I tell Iran's party to quickly withdraw from Syria before it is too late,” the Brigades' spokesperson Sheikh Sirajeddine Zouraykat wrote on his official account on social media website Twitter.

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Amnesty Slams Lebanon Ban on Palestinians Fleeing Syria

Lebanon is acting in a "blatantly discriminatory" manner by denying access to Palestinians fleeing the conflict in neighboring Syria, Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday.

The watchdog said Lebanon has imposed increasingly onerous entry requirements at the border with Syria and that there was evidence it is trying to prevent Palestinian refugees from entering via Beirut airport.

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Mashnouq Announces Rehabilitation of Roumieh Prison Next Week

Interior Minister Nouahad al-Mashnouq revealed on Tuesday that the rehabilitation of Roumieh prison will kick start next week, describing it as a first step in the implementation of his reform plan.

“This is the practical stage and we will not begin to construct the new facility now,” Mashnouq told reporters after a meeting with a delegation from the Bankers' Association, headed by its chief Francois Bassil.

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ISG Reaffirms Assistance Commitment, Expresses Concern over Vacuum

The International Support Group for Lebanon reiterated on Tuesday its commitment to provide assistance to Lebanon, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly said.

“ISG members ... expressed strong solidarity with Lebanon in the light of the terrorist threat, and congratulated the prime minister on the recent successes of the security forces,” said Plumbly after he attended a meeting chaired by PM Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.

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Geagea Urges 'Boycotting MPs' to Attend Elections Sessions, Ignore 'Delusional' Proposals

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Tuesday lawmakers who have been boycotting the presidential elections to attend Wednesday's session and exercise their duties towards the people.

He said in an open letter to the “boycotting MPs”: “I call on you to head to parliament instead of wasting time on illusory proposals.”

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SCC Holds Sit-in, Calls for 'Social Alliance' on Wage Scale

More than a dozen of public sectors employees held a sit-in near the Value Added Tax building in Beirut on Tuesday, reiterating their demand for the approval of the controversial wage hike.

Several Syndicate Coordination Committee activists spoke at the protest, urging the parliament to agree on the salary raise.

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