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Geagea: Opposition to Call for Voting on Electoral Draft-Law if Subcommittee Meetings Fail

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Saturday that the March 14 alliance will call for a parliamentary session to vote on an electoral law if a subcommittee failed to reach an agreement by the end of January.

In an interview with French-language newspaper L'Orient Le Jour, Geagea said: “The aim of March 14 it to agree on a final and consensual version of an electoral law by the end of January.”

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Eichhorst Advises Lebanon to Prepare for More Refugee Influx, Lauds Government Plan

European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst expressed on Saturday her “understanding” of Lebanon's rejection to set up camps for refugees escaping the violence in Syria.

Eichhorst told An Nahar daily that she “understood the stance of the government to reject the establishment of camps” but stressed “the importance of preparing for the possible influx of more refugees.”

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Jumblat Says Unconditional Dialogue is Absolute Necessity

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat said Saturday that dialogue was an absolute necessity after President Michel Suleiman failed once again to bring the rival March 8 and 14 camps together.

“Dialogue comes first and is required at this dangerous stage,” he said in remarks to As Safir daily, stressing that his calls for continued cooperation among Lebanon's bickering camps haven't changed.

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Suleiman Postpones National Dialogue without Setting Date for New Round of Talks

President Michel Suleiman officially postponed on Saturday a national dialogue session set to take place at the Baabda Palace.

According to a statement issued by the presidential palace, Suleiman informed all-party talks participants the postponement of Monday's session without setting a new date.

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Reports: Pro-Assad Militias in Northern Lebanon Preparing for 'Terrorist Missions'

Groups close to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime came to Lebanon in a mission to perform terrorist activities, LBCI television reported on Friday.

"These groups have resided in a northern area with Christian-majority,” LBCI said, adding that the armed clans are coordinating their activities with local political forces in the north.

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Mufti Qabbani Rejects Harassment of Refugees, Criticizes Calls for Deporting Them

The Lebanese Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani rejected on Friday calls for the deportation of Syrian refugees out of Lebanon, expressing that it is a “duty to receive them and provide them with basic needs”.

“No politician or citizen in Lebanon has the right to harass Syrian refugees or demand their deportation,” the Mufti said in a released statement.

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Families of Roumieh Islamists, Tall Kalakh Fighters Protest and Call for Sunday Sit-In

The parents of the fighters killed in Tall Kalakh ambush and those of the Islamist inmates in Roumieh prison held a sit-in on Friday in front of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's residence in Tripoli, demanding the freeing of the detained and unveiling the fate of the missing fighters in Syria.

"We will hold another sit-in this Sunday near the al-Arida crossing to press on these issues,” the spokesman of the families of the fighters Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim announced on behalf of the protesters.

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Connelly Welcomes Cabinet's Efforts towards Refugees, Keeping Border Open

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly welcomed on Friday the Lebanese cabinet's decision of maintaining an open border with Syria, saluting its adoption of a “comprehensive plan” to meet the needs of refugees.

“We praise the government's continuous efforts to abide by its international obligations towards refugees,” Connelly said in a statement released after she met with Energy Minister Jebran Bassil.

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FM Considering Establishment of Syrian-Lebanese Refugee Committee

Lebanon is seeking to establish a joint Lebanese-Syrian committee to deal with the conditions of the Syrian refugees across the country as sharp differences surged between cabinet members on the measures to deal with the situation.

Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) reported on Friday that Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour discussed with Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali a proposal to establish the committee that will be tasked with tackling the issue of Syrian refugees.

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Jumblat Says Reconciliation Ceremony to be Held after 'Brih Wounds' were Healed

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat revealed on Friday that the reconciliation in the Mountains was complete after the end of violations against Christian properties in a mixed village in the Shouf district.

“We will hold a reconciliation ceremony under the auspices of the (Maronite) patriarch and the president after the wound of the town of Brih healed following the end of violations against the properties of Christians,” Jumblat told reporters in Bkirki.

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