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Cabinet, SCC Exert Efforts to Reach Agreement to Avoid Large-scale Crisis

The thorny issue of the new wages scale for Syndicate Coordination Committee is heading towards settlement with the cabinet as the ministerial committee tasked with studying the demands of the public sector is expected to meet on Tuesday.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Friday, the cabinet will approve the new salaries scale for all the public sector during its session next Thursday at the Grand Serail gradually in order to avoid inflation.

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Report: Hizbullah Fighters Lately Entered Syria to Back Assad Troops

Hizbullah fighters have lately crossed the area of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali in Hermel to Syria to help Syrian government troops in their fight against rebels, security sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published on Friday that the militants from the 910 unit of Hizbullah’s Jihad Council are fighting alongside the Syrian forces in the areas of al-Qussair, Homs and al-Rastan.

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Charbel: Christian Parties Nearing Deal on Proportional Representation

The four major Christian political parties have neared an agreement on the division of districts in a new electoral law based on proportional representation, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said.

The minister told al-Liwaa daily published on Friday that he has information that the Free Patriotic Movement, the Phalange party, the Lebanese Forces and Marada movement have almost completed their proposal on Charbel’s draft-law.

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Hague Discusses with Miqati Govt. Efforts to Aid Syrian Refugees

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Thursday stressed to Prime Minister Najib Miqati his country’s support for Lebanon and inquired about the efforts that are being made by the Lebanese government to aid the Syrian refugees, the premier’s office said.

Miqati is in London to attend the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. He is accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami.

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AFP Photographer Beaten in Clash between Asir Supporters, Passersby

Members of the Internal Security Forces beat an Agence France Presse photographer on Thursday while he covered a clash that erupted during a sit-in organized by Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir on Sidon’s seaside road.

"When the protesters cut off Sidon's main road, a skirmish broke out between those participating in the sit-in and passers-by," said the photographer, Mahmoud Zayat.

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Suleiman Tells Harb Relevant Authorities Agreed to Give Full Telecom Data

MP Butros Harb on Thursday revealed that President Michel Suleiman has informed him that the relevant authorities “have decided to hand over the complete telecom data” to the security agencies probing the recent failed attempt on his life.

“A formula has been reached for that,” Harb said, adding that such a move would represent “a serious step towards unveiling the circumstances of the attempt on my life.”

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Miqati to Join London 2012 Ceremony as 10 Athletes Represent Lebanon at Games

Prime Minister Najib Miqati headed on Thursday to London to join the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games as 10 Lebanese athletes will participate in various games.

According to An Nahar newspaper, the premier will be accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami.

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Berri-Aoun Relations Going Back on Track

Ties between Speaker Nabih Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun that deteriorated over the Electricite du Liban’s contract workers row are slowly getting back on track, a ministerial source said Thursday.

The source said a positive sign emerged on Wednesday when MP Simon Abi Ramia, who is a member of Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, attended the meeting of the parliament’s secretariat and the head of legislative committees headed by Berri.

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SCC Says Miqati Advised Suspension of Official Exams Correction if Demands Not Met

Head of Association of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Hanna Gharib criticized on Thursday Prime Minister Najib Miqati, revealing that the premier advised the Syndicate Coordination Committee to suspend the correction of the official exams if their demands were not carried out.

During one of the negotiation meetings with Miqati “he advised us to suspend the correction of the official exams if there was any delay in carrying out our demands,” Gharib told As Safir newspaper.

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FPM Organizes ‘Flash Lights’ March over EDL ‘Occupation’

Free Patriotic Movement supporters on Thursday staged a march from Ashrafiyeh’s Sassine square to an area near the Electricite du Liban headquarters in Mar Mikhael to protest what they called the “occupation of state buildings.”

An FPM official had told An Nahar and As Safir dailies that the protestors “will hold flash lights in their peaceful march as a civilized message of rejection of the occupation of government buildings in Ashrafiyeh.”

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