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Consensus on Refugees in Policy Statement Panel as March 8 Insists on 'Army-People-Resistance'

The ministerial panel tasked with drafting the policy statement of the new cabinet agreed Thursday on the need to find a solution to the Syrian refugee crisis in the country, as the ministers of the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp insisted on the so-called "army-people-resistance equation."

"Consensus was reached over the issue of Syrian refugees," al-Jadeed television reported, following the committee's second meeting at the Grand Serail.

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Baalbek Man Held Captive in Syria's Qalamoun

A resident to the Bekaa city of Baalbek was held captive in Syria's Qalamoun region, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

The family of Samir Hlayhel received a phone call from a Syrian number informing them that their son has been taken to the town of Yabrud in Qalamoun.

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Army Arrests Man for Injuring Hizbullah Official, Killing Palestinian in Khalde

The army on Thursday arrested a man on charges of killing a Palestinian national and wounding a Hizbullah official during a personal dispute in Khalde.

“The army arrested the young man Raydan al-Jurdi for shooting and wounding Hizbullah official Haidar Noureddine and Ali Ghamloush on the western lane of the Khalde-South highway near the Chamsine Bakery and the Kabsa Restaurant,” state-run National News Agency reported.

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Fabius Voices Support for Govt. 'in All the Challenges it is Facing'

France on Thursday said that it supports the new Lebanese government “in all the challenges that it is facing,” hoping the agreement over cabinet will also involve the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

In a congratulations letter he sent to his Lebanese counterpart Jebran Bassil, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius lauded “the spirit of national responsibility that led to the formation of the cabinet,” hoping it will also apply to “the upcoming constitutional junctures.”

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Bir Hassan Death Toll Rises to 10, DNA Confirms al-Mghayyar One of Suicide Bombers

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr announced Thursday that DNA tests have confirmed that Palestinian national Nidal al-Mghayyar is one of the two suicide bombers who blew up two bomb-laden cars Wednesday in Bir Hassan.

“The DNA tests undergone by Nidal al-Mghayyar's father have matched the DNA of one of the suicide attackers,” state-run National News Agency quoted Saqr as saying.

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Loyalty to Resistance Demands 'Short' Ministerial Statement Tackling Security, Resistance

The Loyalty to Resistance bloc hoped on Thursday that the ministerial statement would be “short” and that it would tackle national “priorities” like security and resistance matters.

“We are following up with concern on the meetings of the ministerial committee tasked with drafting a policy statement,” MP Mohammed Fadlallah said after the MPs' weekly meeting.

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Syria Sentences Zuhair Siddiq, Murad Akram for 'False Hariri Trial Testimony'

A Syrian court has sentenced two men to prison for giving "false testimony" implicating Damascus in the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, a Syrian newspaper said Thursday.

The Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the government, said a court on Wednesday sentenced Murad Akram to 10 years in prison, including five years with hard labor, and Zuhair Mohamed Saeed Siddiq to 20 years in prison with 10 years of hard labor.

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Bulgaria Identifies New Suspect in Burgas Bombing

Bulgaria's chief prosecutor says investigators have identified a fourth person they think was involved in the July 2012 bomb attack that killed five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian bus driver.

Sotir Tsatsarov told reporters Thursday that because of the new evidence, the indictment will be delayed.

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Hariri to Discuss with Rahi Presidential Polls, Rejects Vacuum

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri announced Thursday that he would discuss the presidential elections with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, stressing his rejection of a vacuum in the top post.

“I will go to Rome and I will have the opportunity to meet the patriarch … to see what his stance is on the presidential elections,” Hariri told reporters at the end of his two-day visit to Egypt.

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Suleiman: Discussions on Defense Strategy Will Help Fight against Terrorism

President Michel Suleiman highlighted on Thursday the importance of the defense strategy in combating terrorism in Lebanon.

He said: “The measures taken on the ground to combat terrorism can be complemented by the resumption of talks on a national defense strategy.”

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