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Qassem Holds Talks with Pietton on STL and Indictment: Hizbullah has the Right to Defend Itself

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Friday the party's right to defend itself regarding an indictment that may accuse some of its members of being involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He made his stand after holding talks with French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and current developments, reported As Safir Saturday.

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Maalouf: Information of the Arming of Some Sides has been Presented to Security and Legal Authorities

Lebanese Forces MP Joseph Maalouf revealed on Saturday that security and legal authorities in Lebanon have been informed that some groups have been arming themselves.

He told Free Lebanon radio that clarifications should be made on this matter.

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Hizbullah and Jamaa Islamiya Condemn Kalam al-Nas Episode, Accuse it of Provoking Strife

Hizbullah condemned on Saturday the latest episode of LBC's Kalam al-Nas, which it said provoked internal strife in Lebanon.

It said in a statement: "We strongly condemn what LBC has done and we consider it a deliberate encouragement of internal strife in Lebanon, especially between Shittes and Sunnis."

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Bellemare's Office: Evidence Alone can Lead to an Accusation

The office of the prosecutor in the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Daniel Bellemare, stressed that there are no political links to the ongoing investigations.

It said in an email to Al-Akhbar newspaper: "Evidence alone will lead to an accusation in Hariri's assassination."

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Ahmadinejad from Tehran: The Sons of Southern Lebanon will Determine Future of the Region

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed on Friday his support for the "Lebanese people's courageous resistance."

He said upon his return from his trip to Lebanon: "Iran supports the rest of the peoples in the area … and the sons of southern Lebanon will determine the future of the region."

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National Dialogue Postponed and Discussion of False Witnesses File Likely to Lengthen

The presidency announced on Friday that the national dialogue has been postponed.

The session, which was scheduled for October 19, has been pushed to November 4.

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Cassese Extends Deadline Given to Sayyed, Bellemare for Remarks on Investigation Documents

Judge Antonio Cassese, President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, has extended to November 5 a deadline given to former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed and STL Prosecutor Danielle Bellemare to file any observations on the investigation documents issue.

On September 17, 2010, STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen issued an order in which he determined that the Tribunal has jurisdiction to rule on Sayyed's application for access to certain materials in the Hariri case. He also decided that Sayyed had standing to address the Tribunal.

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Bassil Sets Fee for Subscription to Private Generators at LBP 350/kWh for 5 Amps

Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday set the average subscription fee to private power generation in all Lebanese areas at LBP 350/kWh for the 5 amperes category.

Bassil noted that this measure enables citizens and municipalities to hold accountable the providers of private power generation in the country. However, he added that it also respects the rights of the providers.

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France: Hariri Assassination Reenactment Has Not Taken Place Yet

Informed sources in Paris refuted on Friday media reports that stated that the reenactment of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has taken place.

The sources said: "The reenactment is an experiment aimed at performing a technical study of the effects of the explosion" that targeted Hariri in 2005.

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Saqr: Iran's Allies Must Interpret Ahmadinejad's Statements on Internal Scene as We are Facing Real Danger

MP Oqab Saqr stated on Friday that he is still awaiting an honest response from Hizbullah to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements stressing the importance of consensus.

He told MTV: "Iran's allies should implement his statements on the internal scene because we are facing real danger and the Saudi Arabian ambassador had previously informed the Iranian president that destroying unity would serve Israel."

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