Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday voiced his country's support for forming an all-embracing cabinet in Lebanon, hoping for the activation of the economic agreements between the two countries, “especially after the lifting of the international sanctions” that were imposed on Tehran.
Zarif's remarks were voiced at the end of an official visit to Lebanon during which he met with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Full StoryThe Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau detained two gangs formed to carry out abduction operations, the state-run National News Agency reported on Monday.
According to NNA, a joint force comprised of the intelligence bureau and Jounieh police department detained overnight a three-member gang for abducting citizen Georges Simon al-Hawa.
Full StoryFour Hizbullah members go on trial in absentia this week at the U.N.-backed tribunal for the 2005 killing of former Premier Rafik Hariri in a case increasingly overshadowed by sectarian bloodshed at home.
Nine years after a massive Beirut car bombing killed Hariri, leading to the exit of Syrian troops from Lebanon, and three years into Syria's own bloody civil war, prosecutors are finally to open their case on Thursday in a suburb of The Hague.
Full StoryCaretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Monday that Lebanese authorities had lately seized several suspicious vehicles and were waiting for the appropriate equipment to detect explosives.
In remarks to Voice of Lebanon (93.3) radio, Charbel appeased the fears of the Lebanese on the recent car and suicide bombings.
Full StorySaudi national Abed al-Masri is allegedly the successor of Majed al-Majed, who died in Lebanon last week, as the “emir” of the al-Qaida-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.
According to the daily, al-Majed “recommended before departing the Palestinian Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp in Sidon , to engage in battles in Syria, the appointment of al-Masri as his successor if he was hurt.”
Full StorySpeaker Nabih Berri expressed optimism on Monday over the ongoing contacts to form a new cabinet between the political foes, hailing the efforts exerted by head of al-Mustaqbal movement former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
“Ex-PM Saad Hariri isn't only cooperating with endeavors to form an all-embracing cabinet but also cooperating to remove all obstacles confronting it,” Berri said in comments published in local newspapers.
Full StoryPrime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has said it was up to the rival political parties to agree on the details of the new government over their decision to negotiate on a 24-member all-embracing cabinet.
The details of the cabinet formation “were with me when I was planning to form a non partisan government,” Salam said.
Full StoryArmy chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji was in Paris on Monday for talks with top French military officials two weeks after President Michel Suleiman announced a Saudi pledge of $3 billion to buy military equipment from France.
Al-Joumhouria daily quoted military sources as saying that Qahwaji has taken with him to Paris a list of the army's needs.
Full StoryIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday announced that an Iranian judicial delegation would visit Beirut soon to probe the details and circumstances of the twin bombing that targeted the Iranian embassy in Bir Hassan.
The announcement comes after the death at the military hospital of Majed al-Majed, the Saudi chief of the Qaida-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades and the alleged mastermind of the deadly attack.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday reported “positive” developments in the cabinet formation process, noting that Speaker Nabih Berri “always facilitates things.”
Jumblat, who visited Ain el-Tineh with caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour, told al-Manar TV that “meetings with Berri always lead to positive things.”
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