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Foreign Ministry: Missing Lebanese Man in Morocco is Safe

Lebanese national Mohammed Yammout, who had reportedly disappeared in Morocco, is in a good condition and returned to his house there, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

Lebanese charge d’affaires in Morocco Youssef Rajji briefed Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on the case, confirming that Yammout is in a good condition.

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Jumblat Urges Officials to Organize Differences, Safeguard Lebanon

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat voiced hope on Friday that the Lebanese foes would be able to reach consensus to organize differences through the national dialogue table.

Sources close to Jumblat told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that he fears the Syrian crisis would spill over into Lebanon if the Lebanese didn’t safeguard their country.

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Families of Kidnapped Pilgrims Pressure Suleiman on Fate of Loved Ones

The families of 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria last month held talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace on Friday, a meeting that An Nahar daily expected to witness a severe criticism against the government’s inability to secure their release.

The newspaper quoted members of the committee that visited Suleiman along with MPs Ali Ammar and Ghazi Zoaiter as saying the president will hear severe criticism over the government’s management of the file 24 days after the abduction of the men in the northern province of Aleppo by armed men.

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Aoun Skeptical of Joint Committees Decision on EDL Contract Employees

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun slammed on Friday the joint parliamentary committees’ approval of the employment of qualified candidates who are currently contract workers at Electricite du Liban.

He told As Safir newspaper the draft law that was proposed by Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, who is Aoun’s son-in-law, was an accurate interpretation of a law previously approved by the parliament.

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Miqati Rejects Gun Culture, Says he Provides Education not Arms to Tripoli

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied accusations that he is arming certain groups in his hometown of Tripoli, saying he provides the northern city’s residents with education and projects.

In remarks to As Safir daily published Friday, Miqati said: “These remarks are totally rejected.”

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Report: Israeli Concern over Transfer of Scuds to Hizbullah from Syria

Israeli officials are concerned that Hizbullah will try to move sophisticated weaponry, including Scud missiles, from Syria to Lebanon to protect them in the event of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s downfall, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Syria is believed to have allocated a number of Scud D missiles – the most advanced missile in its arsenal – to Hizbullah already in 2010 but they have been stored in bases in Syria, it said.

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Pope Still Planning Lebanon Trip despite Syria Crisis

Preparations for Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Lebanon in September are going ahead despite the escalating conflict in neighboring Syria, the Vatican said on Thursday.

"There is no uncertainty about the preparations," Benedict's spokesman Federico Lombardi said at a press conference. "The Holy See is doing everything to make sure the trip takes place as planned" on September 14-16.

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Clinton’s Deputy Urges Govt. to Address Needs of Displaced Syrians in Lebanon

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Kelly Clements welcomed on Thursday the work of Lebanon’s Higher Relief Council in assisting those in need, announced the U.S. Embassy in a statement.

She urged “the Lebanese government to continue to work closely with the international community to address the humanitarian needs and to ensure the safety of displaced Syrians in Lebanon”.

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Miqati’s Office: Clinton Calls PM, Voices Support for Steps of Govt., Army

Prime Minister Najib Miqati received on Thursday a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, voicing her support to the “steps taken by the government and the efforts of the Lebanese army,” the PM’s Office said in a statement.

Clinton praised the “cooperation between Banque Du Liban and the U.S. Treasury”, the statement added, pointing out that discussion also tackled the Lebanese and regional developments.

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Lebanese Infant Beaten to Death

The parents of a 3-month-old baby girl were arrested by security forces on Friday after her battered body was brought to a hospital in Beirut, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said.

There were clear indications on Farah Mahmoud Abdulrazzak Hawana’s body that she was severely beaten, Abou Faour told Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3).

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