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Kataeb Says 'Necessary Legislation' a 'Suspicious' Move, Slams Syrian Opposition Remarks

The Kataeb Party on Monday warned against approving draft laws under the slogan of “necessary legislation” amid the current presidential void, as it deplored a recent Syrian opposition statement accusing the Lebanese army of abuse against refugees.

The party “warns against any parliamentary course that might lead to legitimizing the presidential vacuum, which would violate the simplest rules of democracy, constitutional norms and the requirements of national coexistence,” Kataeb said in a statement issued after its politburo's weekly meeting.

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Syrian Man Indicted on Terrorism Charges

Military Examining Magistrate Judge Fadi Sawan indicted on Monday a Syrian national for involvement in terrorist activities in Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Sawan said in his indictment that Sami Baqir, a member of an armed terrorist organization, had smuggled Syrian citizens from Lebanon to Syria and the other way around.

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Operator of Fake Terrorist Group Account Faces Trial at Military Court

First Military Examining Magistrate Judge Riyad Abu Ghida issued on Monday an indictment against the operator of the Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade's twitter account.

The judge also called for Hussein al-Hussein to be tried at the military court.

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Adwan Seeks to Appease Angry Relatives of Arsal Hostages

Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan visited the families of the so-called Arsal hostages on Monday to persuade them to reopen the roads they are blocking in protest at the continued captivity of their loved ones.

“Road blocking is not the solution,” Adwan said during the meeting with the families of the captive soldiers and policemen at their protest site in Dahr al-Baidar.

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Hizbullah and Mufti Stress Unity, Cooperation Among Rivals

Hizbullah official Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed said Monday that he agreed with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan on the importance of consolidating unity among the country's rival political parties.

Al-Sayyed, who visited Daryan at the head of a Hizbullah delegation, told reporters after the meeting that the two sides “agreed on the importance of consolidating unity, dialogue, understating and cooperation among the political parties in Lebanon.”

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Parliament's Bureau Meets over Looming Legislative Session

Speaker Nabih Berri chaired on Monday a meeting for parliament's bureau which set a date for a legislative session, whose agenda is topped with the controversial public sector wage scale.

MP Marwan Hamadeh said following the meeting that the members of the bureau put the agenda of the session, which Berri would call for Wednesday.

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Army Repels Jihadist Infiltration Attempt as Gunmen Try to Spread Chaos in Lebanon

The Lebanese army clashed with jihadists trying to infiltrate Lebanese territories at dawn Monday, leaving many dead and injured among their ranks, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported.

The infiltration attempt was made on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, which last month witnessed bloody clashes between the army and militants from al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group.

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Mashnouq: To Discuss with Salam Road Cutoffs Mainly in Dahr al-Baidar

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq stressed on Monday that he will discuss with PM Tammam Salam the issue of road blocking mainly that of Dahr al-Baidar emphasizing the necessity to persuade the families to open it, As Safir daily reported.

“It is a priority for us to address the issue of road blocking with persuasion, but if we failed to solve the issue we will discuss other options,” said Mashnouq.

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Report: Jihadists Make Oral Pledge not to Kill More Arsal Hostages

Qatar's mediator has received oral pledges from the jihadists who have taken Lebanese soldiers and policemen captive that they would not kill more abductees, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily said that the envoy, who is a Syrian and who has not been identified yet, met over the weekend with Lebanese officials and the representatives of the kidnappers of the troops.

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Nusra Front Leader Calls on Lebanese Sunnis to Defect from Army

The leader of al-Qaida's Syria affiliate, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has called on Lebanon's Sunnis to defect from the army.

"Sunnis, take your sons away from the army that serves your enemy, and make them join the ranks of the jihadists," al-Jolani, who heads al-Nusra Front in Syria, said in an audio recording on Sunday.

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