Lebanon
Latest stories
Report: Judiciary to Summon TIME Reporters

The Lebanese judiciary will summon reporters working for TIME magazine after its correspondent Nicholas Blanford provided General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza with their names, informed sources said.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published Friday that during his meeting with Mirza on Tuesday, Blanford told the general prosecutor about the names of all reporters working for the magazine after claiming that he did not know who carried out an interview with one of the four suspects indicted in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination case.

W140 Full Story
March 14 Rejects Turning Parliament into Anti-STL Platform

The March 14-led opposition rejected turning the parliament and constitutional institutions into platforms from which Hizbullah launches campaigns against the international tribunal, the coalition’s sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Friday that Hizbullah was using the state institutions to defend the four suspects that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon indicted in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s Feb. 2005 assassination.

W140 Full Story
Bassil: We'll Topple Govt. if It Doesn’t Implement Electricity Plan

Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday warned that the country will suffer “governmental and parliamentary paralysis if the dispute over the electricity plan is not solved,” noting that “the issue can be resolved in cabinet.”

“We will topple any government that does not want to implement the plan,” Bassil vowed.

W140 Full Story
Saniora Holds Talks with Erdogan in Ankara

The head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora held talks on Thursday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara during which the Turkish official informed him of his positions on the developments in the Arab world.

The talks also discussed the latest developments in the region.

W140 Full Story
Geagea Holds President, Premier, Army Responsible for Situation in Lassa

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, the army, and security forces for their shortcomings in dealing with the developments in the town of Lassa, holding them “responsible before history” for the ongoing incidents taking place in the area.

He said after holding talks with a delegation from the town and other Jbeil District areas: “You will be held accountable because you are allowing the people to resolve their disputes in their own hands, is this acceptable?”

W140 Full Story
Suleiman: Modern Electoral Law Will Pave Way for Rise of Fair State

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday the importance of holding dialogue between all the political factions.

He noted: “Dialogue has become a necessity for all countries and not just Lebanon.”

W140 Full Story
U.S. Embassy Moves to Appointment System for Routine Citizen Services

The American Embassy in Lebanon announced Thursday a change in its policy regarding visas for American citizens.

Citizens are asked to make online appointments before coming to the Embassy in order to provide efficient effective service.

W140 Full Story
Fadlallah: We Cannot Depend on Telecom Data Alone in Hariri Case

Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah slammed on Thursday the indictment in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, saying that depending on telecommunications data alone as evidence is not enough in a case as sensitive as the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He said during a press conference on the indictment’s telecommunications data: “The tribunal, its decisions, and the investigation have created a dangerous divide in Lebanon.”

W140 Full Story
Britain Vows to Exert Efforts to Support Stability in Lebanon

British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher presented his credentials to President Michel Suleiman at Beiteddine Palace on Thursday, the British embassy said in a statement.

In his first official statement via a video message in Arabic and English, Fletcher said: ‘‘I am delighted to be taking up this post, and determined to do all I can to enhance the partnership between the UK and this extraordinary country.”

W140 Full Story
2 Brothers Wounded in Grenade Attacks

Two brothers were wounded at dawn Thursday when unknown assailants tossed four hand grenades at a petrol station in Rwaissat Jdeideh area, the National News Agency said.

NNA said the grenades were tossed at the Mar Elias gas station.

W140 Full Story