Michel Suleiman
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Mansour Procrastinates in Sending Message of Protest to Syria after Casting Doubt on Air Strikes

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour reiterated on Wednesday that he would do the necessary contacts about the alleged Syrian air strikes inside Lebanese territories upon his return to Beirut after he cast doubt that the attacks took place.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Mansour said he would follow up the case when he returns to Beirut “although he was informed during his presence in Nigeria that the alleged Syrian raids in the border areas were rumors.”

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March 14 MPs Hope FM Will Respect Suleiman's Call to Complain against Syrian Shelling of Lebanon

Independent March 14 MPs condemned on Tuesday the Syrian regime's shelling of Lebanese areas on Sunday, hailing President Michel Suleiman's stance on the matter.

MP Butros Harb said: “We hope Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour would not rebel against Suleiman's demand to file a complaint against the Syrian regime's shelling of Lebanese territory.”

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Suleiman Asks Mansour to Hand Syria Letter of Protest over 'Violation of Lebanese Sovereignty'

President Michel Suleiman tasked on Tuesday Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour with sending a letter of protest to Syria over air raids in the northeastern border area that violated Lebanese sovereignty.

Suleiman said the air raids were “unacceptable” and “violated Lebanese sovereignty.”

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Gharib Appeals for Unity to Confront Strife and Divisions on Historic Protest

Head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib sought on Tuesday to mobilize the Lebanese people for a historic protest against the government, saying the demonstration will be aimed at confronting strife and sectarian divisions.

“We will all be together on March 21 not just for the sake of the wage scale but for preserving national unity and civil peace,” Gharib said at a protest held near the Justice Ministry and Justice Palace in Beirut.

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Report: Rome Meeting Agrees on Technically Postponing Polls, Formation of Senate

A meeting held between Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati reached a breakthrough over the controversial electoral law, which will be technically postponed according to a two-page plan.

Al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday that the two-page document, which was agreed upon between the three officials, states that political foes should consent on a hybrid electoral law that divides the parliamentary seats equally based on winner-takes-all and proportional systems or 60 percent of MPs be elected through the winner-takes-all and 40 according to the proportional system.

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Suleiman Meets with Nigeria's President over Hostages

President Michel Suleiman met with his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan on Monday and the the two leaders discussed the purported execution by Islamist radicals of seven foreign hostages this month, including two Lebanese.

Suleiman said he still had hope "the kidnappers will set (the hostages) free immediately".

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Suleiman Steadfast on Stance from Orthodox Proposal, Vows to Challenge it

President Michel Suleiman stood firm on Monday against the adoption of the Orthodox Gathering electoral draft-law, reiterating that he rejects the postponement of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“I will challenge the Orthodox proposal and I will not back down on my decision... I will challenge it a million times if the parliament approves it,” Suleiman said via twitter.

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Al-Rahi Tackles Electoral Law with Berri, Miqati in Rome

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi discussed on Sunday with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Rome the controversial electoral law.

Berri was quoted as saying after the meeting that he will agree on any electoral law that has the consensus of the rival March 14 and 8 alliances.

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Suleiman Rejects Imposing Electoral Law on President

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Sunday that he rejects attempts by any country to impose its stance concerning the upcoming parliamentary election, noting that the capacities of the Lebanese army should be fortified.

“It should be clear. No Lebanese president would accept being directed by any country concerning the electoral law,” Suleiman said at a meeting with the Lebanese community in Ghana during an official visit.

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U.S. Diplomat Condemns Syria Cross-Border Violations, Slams Warnings by Regime

The United States condemned the Syrian violations along Lebanese border, lashing out at warnings by the regime of President Bashar Assad that its forces would fire into Lebanon if "terrorist gangs" continued to infiltrate the country.

“The international community has to exert more efforts to isolate Lebanon from the Syrian crisis and prevent it from spilling over,” a U.S. diplomat told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

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