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ID of Hermel Suicide Bomber 'Mere Joke' as Alleged Suspect Denies Reports

An alleged suspect of the suicide bombing that targeted Hermel over the weekend denied media reports that accused him, considering it a “joke.”

“I have no links to the bombing in Hermel. It was a joke by a guy and without my prior knowledge,” he told LBCI.

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Truck Drivers Strike Causes Heavy Traffic in Several Areas

Traffic came to a standstill at Beirut's entrances and several other areas during the Monday morning rush-hour after the owners of trucks held a strike to protest the strict schedule imposed on them.

The head of the syndicate of owners and drivers of trucks, Shafiq al-Qassis, said that the strike is peaceful and only aims at changing the schedule of the trucks.

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January Hermel Blast Death Toll Rises to Four

The death toll from a suicide bombing that targeted the northeastern town of Hermel on January 16 has risen to four, the state-run National News Agency reported on Monday.

According to the news agency, Mohammed Issa, who was critically injured in the bombing, succumbed to his wounds early on Monday.

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Al-Rahi 'Won't Give Consent' to Cabinet that Excludes FPM, LF

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi will not accept the formation of a government from which the two major Christian parties are missing, officials in Bkirki said.

The officials, who were not identified, told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday, that “no one should ever think that the Maronite patriarch would give his consent to a cabinet from which the biggest Christian parties are missing.”

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Syrian Shells Hit Akkar Houses as Warplanes 'Violate Lebanese Airspace'

Two houses were badly damaged Sunday by shells fired from Syria on the Akkar town of al-Uwaynat as Syrian warplanes reportedly violated the Lebanese airspace over several towns in the region.

“Shells fired from the Syrian side of the border have been targeting the border town of al-Uwaynat since the afternoon,” Lebanon's National News Agency reported in the evening.

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Strict Security Measures in Dahr al-Baydar amid Reports of 'Beirut-Bound Bomb-Laden Car'

The army on Sunday took strict security measures at its checkpoint in Dahr al-Baydar, especially on the lane leading to Beirut, over reports about a bomb-laden car, state-run National News Agency reported.

The measures “created a traffic jam in the vicinity of the checkpoint, which reached as far as al-Mreijat,” NNA said.

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Lebanese Delegation Hands Letter from Berri to Libya over Sadr Case

A Lebanese delegation on Sunday delivered a letter from Speaker Nabih Berri to his Libyan counterpart Nouri Abusahmain, in which the Lebanese leader called for “activating cooperation in the case of the abduction of Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his two companions.”

The delegation, which was led by Liberation and Development bloc MP Ayyoub Hmayyed, met in the Libyan capital with Abusahmain and a number of ministers and top officials, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

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Salam Meets Bassil, Offers FPM '2 Portfolios, Including Foreign Affairs'

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam on Sunday held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil and Hizbullah secretary-general's political assistant Hussein Khalil as part of consultations aimed at resolving the cabinet formation deadlock.

The PM-designate held separate talks with Khalil and Bassil at his Musaitbeh residence before heading to Ain al-Tineh for talks with Berri.

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Suleiman Urges Lebanese to 'Put National Interest Above All Else'

President Michel Suleiman on Sunday stressed that “it is necessary to put the national interest above all else and resort to the dialogue approach,” urging the Lebanese to “draw lessons from what's happening around them.”

“Political leaders in particular must pay attention to the risks and threats the country is facing and must therefore act according to the national interest,” Suleiman said in a statement.

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Army: Hermel Explosives Weighed more than 25 Kg

The Lebanese army said Sunday that more than 25 kilograms of explosives, rockets and grenades were used in the suicide bombing that targeted the northeastern town of Hermel a day earlier.

The army said in a communique that the military experts, who inspected the site of Saturday's explosion, concluded that the vehicle used for the bombing contained 25-30 kilograms of explosives, rockets and hand grenades.

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