Lebanon
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Army Strengthens Presence in Tripoli as Clashes Erupt between Jabal Mohsen, Bab al-Tabbaneh

Gunfire exchange took place in the northern city of Tripoli on Sunday evening amid heavy military deployment in the area, the state-run National News Agency reported.

"Gunfire was heard in the Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen,” the NNA elaborated, pointing out that armed men were present in the region.

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Salam at Hospital for Stomach Virus

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam was admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center after falling ill on Sunday afternoon.

"It was revealed that Salam was suffering from a stomach virus,” the state-run National News Agency said.

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Fate of Syria Detainees Unclear after Pilgrims' Hostage Deal

The fate of dozens of Syrian women detainees who were to be freed in exchange for nine released Lebanese hostages was unknown on Sunday.

On Saturday, the nine pilgrims kidnapped 17 months ago by rebels in northern Syria were set free, as were two Turkish pilots taken hostage in Beirut in August, as part of an exchange mediated by Lebanese officials and Doha.

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More Lebanese Officials Congratulate the Pilgrims on their Return to Beirut

More Lebanese top political and religious officials congratulated on Sunday nine Lebanese pilgrims and their families on their safe return home from Syria and called for the release of the kidnapped bishops.

In a telephone conversation with Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who had been tasked by the Higher Islamic Shiite Council to follow up the case of the pilgrims, President Michel Suleiman inquired about the health of the nine men.

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Al-Rahi Prays for Release of Syria Clergymen, Urges Suleiman and Salam to Practice their Authorities

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has congratulated the families of the nine pilgrims who were released on Saturday following a 17-month kidnapping ordeal in Syria but called for setting free two bishops and three priests abducted there.

During a mass on a pastoral visit to the Metn district, al-Rahi said: “We congratulate their relatives on their safe return but we pray specially for the release of Bishops Boulos Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim and the three priests who were kidnapped months ago.”

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Saniora Holds 'Positive, Constructive' Talks with Berri in Ain al-Tineh

Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday held a two-hour meeting with head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc ex-PM Fouad Saniora in Ain al-Tineh.

“The meeting is a continuation of the talks we held more than two weeks ago. We discussed a large number of key issues that are of interest to the Lebanese and the dialogue was positive, beneficial and constructive,” Saniora said after the meeting.

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Freed Lebanese Pilgrims Arrive in Beirut, Turkish Pilots Released

A plane carrying the nine freed Lebanese pilgrims and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Saturday landed in Beirut around 10:35 p.m. after a brief delay at the airport in Turkey over logistical reasons, state-run National News Agency reported.

Earlier on Saturday, a Qatari plane carrying two Turkish pilots abducted in August in Lebanon took off from Beirut's airport, carrying the freed men home, as part of a swap deal also involving Syrian women prisoners.

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Officials Laud Release of Nine Lebanese Pilgrims

Lebanese officials expressed relief on Saturday over the near return of the nine Lebanese pilgrims, who were kidnapped by rebels in Syria last year.

Speaker Nabih Berri congratulated the nine men and their relatives.

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Residents of Wata el-Msaytbeh Protest Removal of Illegal Construction

Several residents of the Beirut neighborhood of Wata el-Msaytbeh blocked the road, burning tires and trash bins, to prevent Internal Security Forces from quelling illegal construction in the area.

According to the state-run National News Agency, the residents of al-Tannak neighborhood blocked the road and plumes of black smoke engulfed the area.

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Residents of Abboudiyeh Block Road to Protest Syrian Gunfire

The residents of the Akkar border town of al-Abboudiyeh briefly blocked the international highway on Saturday to protest the Syrian gunfire in the area.

The state-run National News Agency reported that the angry residents blocked the road to protest the continuous gunfire that is targeting their houses in the area.

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