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Aoun: Army Incapable of Defending Lebanon against Israeli Assault

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed the importance of the complementary role of the army and resistance, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.

He explained that the Lebanese army is functioning as a border guard “and it would be incapable of defending Lebanon in case of an assault, especially an Israeli one."

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Miqati Will Request Aid for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon at U.N. General Assembly

Prime Minister Najib Miqati traveled to New York City on Saturday to take part in the United Nations General Assembly, where he is likely to stress the Lebanese government's policy of disassociating itself from the Syrian crisis, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He will likely also demand the international community's assistance in catering to the needs of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

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Open Hearing Set for Oct. 1 to Appeal Decision on Jurisdiction and Legality of STL

The Appeals Chamber has scheduled an open hearing on 1 October at 9:15 a.m. to hear the appeal against the decision on the jurisdiction and the legality of the Tribunal, announced the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in a press release on Friday.

The Trial Chamber dismissed on July 27 the four Defense motions challenging the jurisdiction and legality of the Tribunal.

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Muslims in Lebanon Protest Film, Cartoons amid Death Calls

Muslims, Sunnis and Shiites, in Lebanon took to the streets on Friday to vent their anger over a U.S.-made film and French cartoons mocking Islam.

In the southern port city of Sidon, Sunni clerics called "a day of rage" against insults to the Prophet Mohammed but urged followers to contain their anger to inside their mosques.

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Arrest Warrants Issued against 2 from al-Meqdad Clan, Another Lebanese Man

Military Tribunal Judge Imad al-Zein issued on Friday arrest warrants against Maher and Hassan al-Meqdad and another Lebanese man after being charged with forming an armed group.

The trial of the al-Meqdad clan members and Tarek Sultan was postponed until investigations are complete and witnesses are questioned.

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Several Soldiers Wounded during Clashes in Army Pursuit of Suspect in al-Ghobairi

Several members of the army were wounded on Friday as they were pursuing a wanted suspected in Beirut's southern suburbs of al-Ghobairi, with Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressing the security forces' determination to control security in Lebanon.

The Army Command announced that two officers and a number of soldiers were wounded in armed clashes that ensued during the pursuit.

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French Schools Shut across Lebanon, Army Steps up Security Measures ahead of Demos

French schools were closed in Lebanon on Friday and the army on alert outside French institutions ahead of protests against the publication of cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed in a French magazine.

"Due to current international tensions and the principle of precaution, our authorities in Paris have decided on the exceptional measure to close certain French establishments," the French embassy announced on Friday.

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Gunmen Rob al-Ahli Bank in Gallery Semaan Area, Escape on Foot

Two gunmen, who staged a robbery at al-Ahli bank on the old Sidon road in the Gallery Semaan area, had to escape on foot after their motorcycle broke down, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

According to the news agency, the two assailants wearing sunglasses forced the employees at gunpoint to open the bank's cash registers and were able to rob $12,000 and LL12 million.

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Police Arrest 14 Suspects in Tripoli's KFC Assault

The police chief of the northern city of Tripoli revealed on Friday that 14 people have been arrested in the assault on an KFC outlet and the Serail during protests against an anti-Islam U.S. film last week.

Brig. Gen. Bassam al-Ayyoubi said the 14 suspects had set alight the fast food restaurant and tried to storm the Tripoli Serail in protests over the low-budget film “Innocence of Muslims” that has fanned global Muslim anger.

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Report: Bank Robbery Cell Suspected of Plotting Attacks against Politicians, Officers

A Bank robbery network suspected of plotting attacks on two judges had a list to target several other politicians and officials, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the report, the cell led by Mohammed al-Jouni was planning to assassinate Speaker Nabih Berri, Former Ministers Michel and Elias al-Murr, MPs George Adwan, Akram Shehayyeb, Nohad al-Mashnouq, Ahmed Fatfat, Mohammed Kabbara, Judges Abdul Rahim Hammoud, Henri Khoury, Dani el-Zaenni and former LBCI anchorwoman May Chidiac.

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