Naharnet
Latest stories
Hariri Receives Delegation from US Congress

Prime Minister Saad Hariri received Wednesday evening at the Grand Serail, a delegation from the US congress where talks focused on several issues including US aid to the Lebanese security apparatuses.

US congressman Harold Rogers was heading the delegation that arrived in Lebanon for a visit on April 12 and was comprised of six congressmen.

W140 Full Story
Report: Baabda Circles Explain Aoun's 'Historic' Move

President Michel Aoun's move where he invoked his constitutional powers to adjourn the parliament for one month, is only the second in Lebanon's history since 1926, media reports said on Thursday.

W140 Full Story
Amnesty Chief Lauds Lebanon on Refugees, Warns against 'Xenophobia'

The head of the Amnesty International rights group on Tuesday applauded Lebanon for hosting more than a million refugees from neighboring Syria but warned against what he called “xenophobic talk.”

W140 Full Story
Parliament Bureau Sets Legislative Session to Extend Parliament Mandate

Members of the parliament's bureau invited the MPs for a legislative session on Thursday devoted to study a draft law submitted by MP Nicolas Fattoush to extend the parliament's term until June 2018.

MP Serje Tersarkisian told reporters on Tuesday after taking part in the parliament bureau meeting: “A legislative session has been scheduled on Thursday to mainly discuss the extension of the parliament's term.”

W140 Full Story
Gemayel Accuses Authories of 'Tailoring' Electoral Law According to Interests

Kaateb party leader MP Sami Gemayel accused the ruling parties of seeking personal benefits in each file being addressed including the new electricity plan submitted to the government and in drafting a new electoral law for the parliamentary elections.

Gemayel requested Speaker Nabih Berri to form an inquiry parliamentary commission to examine a file on leasing Turkish power generating vessels for the country.

W140 Full Story
Report: Army Says Won't Permit Ain el-Hilweh Clashes Expand into Sidon

As clashes at the southern Palestinian Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp in Sidon aggravate, the Lebanese army assured that it won't allow the tension to spill over into Sidon and neighboring areas, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

W140 Full Story
Clashes Continue for 4th Day in Ain el-Hilweh Camp, Toll Rises to 8

Sporadic clashes that have killed eight people continued in the Palestinian Ain al-Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon on Monday, as an extremist group battled a local security force.

An AFP correspondent on the outskirts of the camp in the city of Sidon reported the sound of intermittent fighting and bursts of gunfire, after a night of heavy clashes.

W140 Full Story
Cabinet Forms Committee to Prepare Electoral Law Draft, Aoun Assures no Vacuum at Parliament

The cabinet convened on Monday to look into a new parliamentary electoral law system to govern Lebanon's upcoming polls and agreed on the formation of a ministerial committee that will devise a new draft law, as President Michel Aoun assured there will be no vacuum at the legislative institution.

“The committee will be led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and is set to meet on Tuesday,” said Information Minister Melhem Riachi, as he assured that the committee will finalize its mission in a brief period.

W140 Full Story
Report: Hizbullah Adheres to Proportionality during Meeting with Aoun

On the eve of a cabinet meeting devoted to discuss Lebanon's problematic voting system, a Hizbullah delegation held talks on Sunday with President Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace in the presence of Foreign Minister and Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Talks have focused on the positions of both parties as for a new electoral law that should govern Lebanon's parliamentary elections, said the daily.

W140 Full Story
Geagea Says LF Adheres to Bassil's Electoral Law Format

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said he supports an electoral law format suggested by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil because any other law format would give his party 15 seats less at the parliament, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“We support a hybrid law format, to be specific we support the latest hybrid law suggested by Minister Jebran Bassil, because it leads to proper representation. I can't see any reason to back down on that proposal in favor of any other that would give us 15 seats less at the parliament,” said Geagea in an interview to the daily.

W140 Full Story