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Rifi Hails Intelligence Branch for Averting Terrorist Plot Targeting Country

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi praised the intelligence branch for exposing the terrorist plot that was targeting the country, describing it as its “masterpiece.”

“The efforts exerted (by the intelligence branch) exposed a terrorist plot aiming at carrying out assassination in the north,” Rifi said in a statement.

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Dozens Protest against Anal Exams on Suspected Gays

Dozens of people demonstrated outside the law courts in Beirut on Saturday to protest the use of anal "tests" on men suspected of homosexuality, which is a criminal offence.

The rally followed a July 28 police raid on a gay venue in a working class district of Beirut when 36 men were taken into custody and forced to undergo the examinations, reportedly to determine their sexual orientation.

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Clinton Says Sanctions on Hizbullah Aim to Disrupt Links with Iran, Syria

Fresh sanctions slapped by the United States are meant to "expose and disrupt" links between Iran, Hizbullah movement and Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday.

She said the "number one goal" of Washington and Ankara was to hasten the end of Bashar Assad's regime in Damascus and stop the bloodshed, while warning that Syria must not become a haven for Kurdish rebels battling Turkey.

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Suleiman Lauds Rifi, al-Hassan for ‘Warding Off Dangers’

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Saturday Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and the head of Police Intelligence, Col. Wissam al-Hassan, for “warding off the danger threatening Lebanon.”

His comment came during talks with Rifi and al-Hassan at Beiteddine palace.

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Samaha, Mamlouk Charged with Planning Attacks in Lebanon

Government deputy Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Sami Sader charged on Saturday ex-Information Minister Michel Samaha and Syrian security Chief Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk with forming a group to commit crimes in Lebanon.

The two were also charged with plotting to assassinate political and religious figures.

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FPM Delegation Tells al-Rahi Electoral Draft-Law in Favor of Christians

A Free Patriotic Movement delegation led by Energy Minister Jebran Bassil informed Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi that an electoral draft-law approved by the cabinet earlier in the week would lead to a good representation of Christians, An Nahar daily reported on Saturday.

The delegation, which also included Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, told al-Rahi on Friday that the draft-law guarantees the election of 14 new MPs through the votes of Christians, upping the number of Christian lawmakers elected by members of the same sect to 48, the newspaper said.

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Report: Hizbullah Does Not Adopt Raad’s Comment on Samaha Arrest

Hizbullah has informed Lebanese authorities that it hasn’t adopted the stance of MP Mohammed Raad on the arrest of former Minister Michel Samaha, informed sources told An Nahar daily on Saturday.

The sources said the Hizbullah leadership told the concerned officials that Raad’s pledge not to remain silent to Samaha’s arrest did not represent the stance of the Shiite party.

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Report: National Dialogue Session to be Held even if March 14 Boycotts it

President Michel Suleiman does not intend to postpone a national dialogue session next week if the March 14 opposition coalition boycotts it for the second time in a row, An Nahar daily reported Saturday.

The newspaper said the session will be held on Thursday at Beiteddine palace whether March 14 officials attend or not but Suleiman would not brief the conferees on his view of the country’s defense strategy in case of another boycott.

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Reports: Army Asks Prosecution to Sue MP Merehbi for Inciting Sectarian Strife

The army is seeking to sue al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Moeen al-Merehbi “on charges of inciting sectarian strife,” media reports said on Friday.

MTV said “the army asked the public prosecution to take legal action against MP Moein al-Merehbi on charged of inciting sectarian strife.”

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U.S. Embassy Warns U.S. Citizens in Lebanon of Possible 'Terrorist Attacks'

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut said Friday that it has “received reports of an increased possibility of attacks against U.S. citizens in Lebanon.”

“Possible threats include kidnapping, the potential for an upsurge in violence, the escalation of family or neighborhood disputes, as well as U.S. citizens being the target of terrorist attacks in Lebanon,” the embassy said in a warning for U.S. citizens published on its website.

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