Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi warned on Tuesday that the sale of lands in Lebanon was tantamount to committing a “crime” and “treason,” stressing the “mandatory” election of a new president on time.
“Our land is the land of coexistence … It gave us our identity,” al-Rahi said in his traditional Christmas message.
Full StoryPresident Michel Suleiman is holding on to his stance and rejects any attempts to extend his tenure, which ends in May 2014, as media reports said on Tuesday that the cabinet will be formed by January 30, 2014.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday that Suleiman insists on heading back to his hometown of Amchit on May 26,2014.
Full StoryUnknown assailants opened fire at a house owned by the Dalloul family in al-Fikani neighborhood in the eastern town of Riyaq, the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.
According to the news agency, the armed men, who targeted overnight the house, were in an unidentified car.
Full StoryHead of al-Mustaqbal Parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora revealed that prominent Tripoli lawmakers and the March 14 alliance will hold another meeting next week to follow talks held on Monday at the Center House.
“Monday's meeting was set to follow up the development projects in Tripoli Declaration,” Saniora said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday.
Full StoryHelping Lebanon overcome the burden of Syrian refugees and supporting the stability of its state institutions are two main issues that will be on the agenda of high-level talks between French and Saudi leaders over the weekend, officials said.
The French officials told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Tuesday that French President Francois Hollande is expected to discuss with Saudi King Abdullah Lebanon's political crisis.
Full StoryFrancois Roux, head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's Defense Office, has appointed Mohamed Aouini as "lead counsel to defend the rights and interests of the accused Hassan Habib Merhi," the court announced on Monday.
"The Head of Defense Office was seized of a letter from the Pre-Trial Judge, dated 20 December 2013, requesting him to assign counsel to the Accused Hassan Habib Merhi, following the decision of the Trial Chamber of the same day which decided to initiate proceedings in absentia,” the STL said in a statement.
Full StoryThe Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau arrested on Monday two Lebanese nationals linked to a counterfeiting gang, reported the National News Agency.
Investigations with the suspects later led to the discovery of a five-member Nigerian counterfeiting gang.
Full StoryGunmen kidnapped a Lebanese factory owner in Nigeria's second city of Kano on Monday in an attack that left two employees wounded by gunfire, police and witnesses said.
"I can confirm the kidnap of a Lebanese national by unknown gunmen from his factory in Sharada area this morning," Kano state police spokesman Magaji Majia told Agence France Presse.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat warned on Monday of the weak security situation in Lebanon in light of Sunday's clash in the West Bekaa town of Souairi.
He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “The clash should force officials to adopt calm political rhetoric, organize their disputes, and form a national government that includes all powers.”
Full StoryThe First Military Examining Magistrate issued on Monday arrest warrants against 12 guards for their involvement in a drug trafficking ring at Roumieh prison.
Judge Fadi Sawan issued the warrants after questioning the 12 guards, who have reportedly obtained the drugs from people outside the prison and sold them with the help of several inmates.
Full Story