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Rahi Says Sale of Lebanese Land is 'Crime,' Calls for 'Mandatory' Election of President

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.

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Suleiman Insists on Formation of Cabinet ahead of Presidential Elections Despite Lingering Disputes

President 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.

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Unknown Assailants Open Fire at House in Riyaq

Unknown 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.

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Saniora Says Center House to Host Follow Up Meeting on Tripoli Next Week

Head 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.

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Lebanese Political Crisis, Refugees High on Agenda of French-Saudi Talks

Helping 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.

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STL Defense Office Appoints Lead Counsel for Hassan Merhi

Francois 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.

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Security Forces Identify Nigerian Foreign Currency Forging Gang

The 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.

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Nigeria Gunmen Kidnap Lebanese National Hassan Zain

Gunmen 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.

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Jumblat: Souairi Clash Must Force Officials to Tackle Political Disputes and Form New Govt.

Progressive 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.”

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Arrest Warrants Issued for 12 Roumieh Guards over Drug Network

The 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.

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