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Aoun to Boycott Parliamentary Consultations: We Support Salam to Head New Govt.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Friday his support for MP Tammam Salam's candidacy for the premiership.

He said: “We back Salam to head a cabinet of unity and stability.”

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Suleiman: Israeli Threats against Lebanon Violate Resolution 1701

President Michel Suleiman urged the international community on Thursday to pressure Israel into ending its threats against Lebanon and slammed the Jewish state for violating U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

In a statement issued by Baabda palace, Suleiman said: “The international community should pressure Israel to stop adopting the policy of threats and aggression against Lebanon and to cooperate with international and Arab peace initiatives in the Middle East.”

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Berri's Development and Liberation Bloc Nominates Salam to Head New Govt.

The Development and Liberation bloc of Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Friday its support for MP Tammam Salam to head a new government.

Berri said: “The Development and Liberation bloc has decided to nominate MP Tammam Salam to head a consensual national government.”

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Charbel Calls for One-Week Postponement of Parliamentary Elections

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel requested on Thursday the postponement of the parliamentary elections that were set to be held on June 9 for one week, his office said.

“Charbel referred to the secretariat of the premiership a decree that calls for amending the previous decree that called for holding the polls (on June 9), setting the elections for Sunday June 16, 2013,” said the statement.

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Building under Threat of Collapse in Tariq al-Jadeedah Evacuated

A building with cracks in the walls and foundation in Beirut’s Tariq al-Jadeedah was evacuated on Thursday night, the state-run national news agency reported.

According to the NNA, the 11-storey building that is under the threat of collapse includes 22 apartments.

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Relatives of Kidnapped Lebanese Pilgrims Close Shops Owned by Syrians

The families of nine Lebanese pilgrims abducted by rebels in Syria closed on Friday the shops owned by Syrians in a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs pending the release of their loved ones.

Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who has been tasked by the Higher Islamic Shiite Council to follow up the case of the men abducted in May last year, told the National News Agency that the closure of the shops in Hay el-Sellom is a first step in the protest aimed at pressuring the involved parties to set the pilgrims free.

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Salam Reportedly Receives Support from March 8 Alliance

Lawmaker Tammam Salam is set to be tasked at the weekend with forming a new government after the March 14 coalition officially endorsed him as its candidate for the premiership and the March 8 alliance reportedly agreed late Thursday to back him.

The Beirut MP, who is the son of late Prime Minister Saeb Salam, will now be facing the task of forming a new cabinet whose form and type is until now unclear.

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Miqati Supports Naming Salam to Premiership

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati revealed on Friday that he will name Beirut MP Tammam Salam to the premiership during the binding consultations.

“I hope he gets the majority of votes and the rival parties reach consensus on his candidacy,” Miqati said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

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Geagea Considers Salam Candidacy 'Molded Locally,' Praises March 14 Decision

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea hailed the decision taken by the March 14 alliance to name Beirut MP Tammam Salam to the premiership, describing the choice of his nomination as “manufactured locally.”

“Salam is a moderate person and has characteristics that we are desperately in need of,” Geagea said in comments to al-Akhbar newspaper.

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Jumblat Says Nominated Salam after Rejecting Rifi: I Will Not Accept One-Sided Govt.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced on Thursday his support for nominating Beirut MP Tammam Salam for premiership, stating that he will not take part in any one-sided government.

"I have picked Mr. Tammam Salam and I have contacted him,” Jumblat said in an interview on LBCI television.

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