Lebanon-News-Archives

The idea that “we stand as observers to clashes such as those in Beirut on August 24 and remain silent without giving an opinion” is “unacceptable,” Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during an Iftar dinner at Qoreitem on Friday, according to a statement from his office.

His comments come after the bloody street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official.

Hariri’s comment may be a possible response to the accusations made by Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during his Friday speech in which he accused politicians of “blowing the Borj Abi Haidar clashes out of proportion in order to exploit them” , and said ” those who think the incident reflects an Iranian-Syrian dispute are betting on a failed American neoconservative project.”

Many analysts branded the clashes as a proxy war between Iran and Syria over the control of Lebanon.

On August 25, the cabinet agreed to form a commission to deal with arms proliferation. In a statement issued after a Beirut Development Conference meeting on August 27, Beirut MPs and municipality officials called for a “weapons-free Beirut.”

March 8 MPs have said that such slogans aim to incite sectarian tension and that the weapons proliferation issue is being used against the Resistance.

Hariri reiterated his call for calmness and dialogue, adding that it was essential to preserve coexistence and that no one sect could ever gain advantage over another without Lebanon itself losing.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffery Feltman said Friday during an interview with Al-Arabiya TV that the United States wants peace in the region to include Lebanon and Syria, but added that there are great problems and challenges thwarting this aim.

Addressing the launch of direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, the former US ambassador to Lebanon stressed to Al-Arabiya that it is in the U.S.’ interest to achieve peace, noting that the success of the negotiations is not guaranteed, but the U.S. will try all it can to ensure their success.

He stressed that both the Palestinians and Israelis agreed to reach a comprehensive peace agreement within a year.

Lebanon has officially filed a complaint with the United Nations over what it says is an Israeli spy ring in the country, giving a list of 141 suspected agents, a diplomat said on Friday.

“Lebanon has complained over Israel having set up an espionage network in several areas, notably those of national security, military security and the security of telecommunications, both mobile and fixed,” the diplomat said.

The government wants the complaint to be placed on the agenda of the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly to be held in New York later this month.

Beirut “calls on the international organization to take note of the danger represented by this matter, which could be the prelude to a new aggression against Iran,” the diplomat said.

The complaint informs the UN that the spy networks “constitute an aggression on Lebanon and on its sovereignty in a clear violation of international resolutions, particularly resolution 1701.”

Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon that killed over 1,200 Lebanese , most of them civilians.

Israeli agents had been responsible for targeted killings, it said, adding that they had spied on Lebanese president Michel Suleiman and other top Lebanese officials.

More than 100 people have been arrested on suspicion of espionage since April 2009, including telecom employees, members of the security forces and active duty troops.

Many of the suspects are accused of having helped Israel identify targets during its devastating 2006 war with militants of the Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Five of those tried have been sentenced to death for spying for Israel’s Mossad overseas intelligence service.

Lebanon and Israel remain technically in a state of war, and convicted spies face life in prison with hard labor or the death penalty if found guilty of contributing to Lebanese loss of life. AFP, Agencies

A large explosion rocked a village in southern Lebanon Friday, according to a Lebanese security source.

The explosion took place inside the village of Shehabiyeh , near the border with Israel.

According to a witness, the sounds of further blasts continue to be heard in Shehabiyeh , as ambulances and firefighters were rushing to the area of the initial blast.

Preliminary reports from security sources in southern Lebanon said the house that seems to be the center of the blast belongs to a Hezbollah member and might have been an arms depot.

Hezbollah said the Lebanese army opened an investigation into the Shehabiyeh “fire” and denied any casualties in the blaze

Lebanese army troops are said to have cordoned off all areas leading to the village.

Lebanese soldiers secure the area at the site of explosion, in the southern Shehabiyeh village, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010.

Shehabiyyah is 15 kilometers ( about 10 miles) east of the southern port town of Tyre. The area is under the control of United Nations troops and Lebanese soldiers and is supposed to be free of weapons, in accordance to UN resolution 1701, which ended 33 days of war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Israel has regularly demanded that the UN investigate several explosions in southern Lebanon last year. Israel argues those blasts prove that munitions were being stockpiled in violation of a truce.

On Friday the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) distributed photos which it said had been taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the site of the explosion , adding that it was uninvolved in the explosion.

The explosion was reportedly the result of a fire that spread to a building and detonated eight rocket shells, several hand grenades, and two gas containers, Reuters news agency quoted an anonymous security source as saying on Friday.

The IDF said the photos showed that a “very large” amount of explosives had gone off, according to local reports

UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh commented on the incident by saying:” We are coordinating with the Lebanese army and we have sent patrols to the location of the explosion in Shehabiyeh.”

Future News reported that at least two people were wounded in the Shehabiyeh explosion.

Firefighters had reportedly extinguished the blaze at the suspected weapons depot as UNIFIL helicopters hovered overhead.

According to VOL the 3-floor building in Shehabiyeh is owned by a man from the Salloum family.

No longer serve Lebanon’s interest

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said today that Hezbollah’s arms in their current location and form no longer serve Lebanon’s interest.
The weapons “serve other interests. ” Geagea told a delegation from the Popular University in Jbeil.

“As far as we know the resistance should be in occupied territories. Is Beirut occupied?” Geagea asked.

Two crew members aboard an American ( United Parcel Services) UPS cargo plane are believed to have been killed after the aircraft crashed in Dubai today.

According to a United Arab Emirates official who appeared on local television station al-Arabiya, the plane was attempting to land at Dubai International Airport when it crashed due to technical problems. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft setting fire to vehicles as it crashed and going up in a fireball. Some witnesses told Al-Jazeera that they had seen a fire on the aircraft before it crashed.

UPS spokeswoman Kristen Petrella said the Boeing 747-400 went down at about 8pm and was en route to the UPS hub in Cologne, Germany. Although the company has not officially confirmed casualties, it said two crew members were on board. “This incident is very unfortunate and we will do everything we can to find the cause. Our thoughts go out to the crew members involved in the incident and their families,” UPS said in a statement.

Although local reports said the plane had come down near a busy highway intersection south-east of the airport, posters on the Professional Pilots Rumour Network (PPRN) suggest the aircraft went down near an area known as Silicon Oasis. The state news agency, Wam, reported the crash in an unpopulated desert area.

One poster on the PPRN said: “Just five minutes ago. I heard and saw an aircraft, possibly an airliner going down in Dubai near Silicon Oasis. It has just over-flown my house and [there was] a big fireball.”UPS, a courier company based in US city of Atlanta, confirmed in a statement that one of its cargo planes had been involved in an accident in Dubai and said it was working to obtain more details.MrMachfivepointfive wrote on PPRN: “UPS. Declared Mayday. Was on approach 30L and then veered off course. Last radar hit showed descending through 500′ doing 250kts.”

In October 2009, a Sudanese Boeing 707 cargo plane crashed in the desert outside Dubai, killing six crew members. Emirati regulators have since banned Azza Transport, the plane’s Sudanese owner, from operating in the country.Guardian

The head of Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)’s Defense Office François Roux said in an interview with An-Nahar newspaper that “the tribunal’s indictment is just the beginning.”

Roux said that no one knows when the indictment will be issued or who will be indicted.

Roux said the Defense Office is to “protect the rights of the defense, provide support and assistance to defense counsel and to the persons entitled to legal assistance, including, where appropriate, legal research, collection of evidence and advice, and appearing before the Pre-Trial Judge or a Chamber in respect of specific issues.”

Roux also said that he and Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar – who is representing the Lebanese cabinet – finalized this week a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said that the tribunal’s Defense Office will collaborate with the relevant Lebanese authorities if it needed assistance, adding that the Defense Office’s work will begin after the STL issues its pending indictment.

“The procedure is legal, not political,” Roux said.

He also said that his office has recruited about 85 attorneys – including five Lebanese – who can be tasked with defending those who will be indicted.

“Every defendant may choose a lawyer,” he said.

STL Prosecutor General Daniel Bellemare said earlier this week during an interview with Now Lebanon he has not yet drafted the indictment adding that he will make sure that the evidence he will produce is admissible in court.

STL was created by the UN security council to try the killers of lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri and the related crimes

About Roux
François Roux is a French lawyer who has been practicing criminal law for over 36 years. He spent many years at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda where he represented four accused persons and obtained one verdict of not guilty. He was also a member of the defense team for Zacarias Moussaoui who was implicated in the September 11th attacks in New York.

March 14 MP Jamal Jarrah told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) on Friday that calls for a “weapons-free Beirut” are serious.

“The issue should be followed up calmly and through dialogue,” Jarrah said, adding that the August 24 clashes in Beirut should not recur.

March 14 leaders called for a “weapons-free Beirut” following a bloody street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official.

According to local reports the c.lash was caused by a fight over a parking space.

The issue of weapons free Beirut has led to dissent within the ranks of several parties and parliamentary blocks .

Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)

MP Naji Gharios told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) last Friday that Beirut should be an arms-free city.

Similarly another FPM MP Alain Aoun told LBCI television last Friday that the arms that do not serve a specific purpose should be confiscated by the state.

On Friday FPM MP Ghassan Moukheiber told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) that weapons in Lebanon should only be in the hands of “legitimate powers.” This is a possible reference to the Lebanese army and internal security forces

On the other hand Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, a close ally of Hezbollah and a key defender of Hezbollah arms said only Hezbollah should be armed and questioned why Beirut only should be arms- free

Progressive socialist party
Similarly Minister of the Displaced Akram Shehayyeb stressed Thursday that all political powers are demanding that Beirut becomes arms-free.

He said: “This is an historic issue that cannot be solved except politically.”

“Controlling the arms is required, and maintaining arms against the enemy is also required. It is important to distinguish between arms aimed at defending Lebanon and those that are disorganized and spread throughout the country,” he noted, in reference to the Borj Abi Haidar battle.

Shehayyeb, who is a member of Jumblatt’s Democtaric Gathering parliamentary bloc differs with his boss on this issue.

MP Walid Jumblatt told As Safir newspaper on Thursday that the slogan of arms-free Beirut was meaningless and unenforceable and warned that the Borj Abi Haidar clashes were more dangerous than any external war.

Jumblatt said the deadly street battles between Hezbollah and Al-Ahbash gunmen last week came in reaction to the tripartite summit held at Baabda between President Michel Suleiman, Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian leader Bashar Assad.

“As if there is someone who wants to tell the leaders: You are not the ones who come up with solutions,” Jumblatt said.

He warned that Lebanon was threatened by chaos and said the Americans want to fight Iran on Lebanese territories. “There are other countries who want to fight Syria in Lebanon, “he added in a possible reference to Iran.

The clash was described by many observers as a proxy war between Iran and Syria over the control of Lebanon.

Syrian authorities have reportedly arrested a Lebanese cleric last month while he was on his way to Saudi Arabia to perform the Omra, al-Akhbar daily reported Thursday.

According to local reports the cleric who was identified as Sheikh Hassan Msheymish, was arrested on July 7.

The cleric is reportedly a March 14 sympathizer and a Hezbollah critic.

Al-Akhbar quoted several Damascus visitors as saying that the arrest came upon suspicion that Msheymish was collaborating with Israel.

A high-ranking Lebanese security official has reportedly confirmed to AFP the arrest of Msheymish

“Msheymish was arrested in July in Syria based on data Lebanese police intelligence had sent to Syrian authorities indicating that he was implicated in collaborating with Israel,” the Lebanese official told AFP.

A Lebanese security source has reportedly told al-Akhbar that the man’s arrest was linked to a “highly sensitive” security file.

Al-Akhbar quoted Lebanese security sources as saying that the suspect admitted to investigators in Syria that he was collaborating with a foreign security apparatus.

More spies arrested

According to local reports Internal Security Forces (ISF) Intelligence Branch detained Thursday Ibrahim Hassan Noura and his son, Jaafar, in the southern town of Marjayoun on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.

The detainees were reportedly transferred to the Intelligence Branch in Saida for investigation.

Lebanon has filed a complaint to the United Nations over Israeli spy networks in the country, in the first such move against the Jewish state. Lebanon’s U.N. ambassador, Nawaf Salam, delivered copies of the complaint to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and current president of the Security Council, Turkish ambassador Ertugrul Apakan.

A list comprising the names of more than 100 people who have been convicted or accused of spying for Israel was enclosed with the complaint.

The head of Hezbollah parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, has reportedly described on Thursday the direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as humiliating, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas re-launched their first direct talks in 20 months in Washington on Thursday in Washington.

Raad praised the Hamas after four Israelis were killed on Tuesday near the West Bank town of Hebron. The attack was claimed by Hamas.

“The only choice we have is that of Resistance to retrieve our rights in Jerusalem and in all Arab occupied territories,” Raad added.

The US considers both Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations

As part of a crackdown on power theft, Electricite du Liban (EDL) on Thursday said an observation team has inspected the house of Batroun priest Pierre Saab after observers found a tree planted at the base of an electricity pole with an underground cable to the cleric’s house.

The company said in a statement that the observation teams, consisting of Justice Ministry staff, were working “day and night ” to curb violators of the public network across all Lebanese territories “without exception or discrimination.”

Priest Saab accused EDL,of “personally” targeted him.

“Observation teams came to Batroun at night to ask for the house of priest Pierre Saad precisely … This is clear evidence that I was personally targeted in this campaign and it was not a wide-spread campaign as the statement said,” Saab said in a statement.

“This is considered a humiliating act against me personally and my wife and children,” Saab added. ( Naharnet)

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Rokn Abadi said Thursday following a meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Lebanon during October.

Hariri’s adviser Mohammed Shatah was present in the meeting.

Abadi, however, did not specify the exact date of Ahmadinejad’s visit.

When asked if the date of Ahmadinejad’s visit to Lebanon has been set, Roknabadi said: “The date has not yet been set. The visit, however, will take place during the coming month of October.”

The Iranian ambassador said that he conveyed to Hariri regards from Ahmadinejad’s and Vice President Mohammad Rida Rahimi and recognition of his efforts to enhance the commercial, economic, scientific and cultural relations between the two countries.

“We spoke, of ways to enhance economic and cultural bilateral relations,” Abadi said

“We also spoke about the latest developments on the Lebanese and regional scenes, and stressed on the Iranian position which supports a stable, secured, united and coherent Lebanon against the only enemy in this world, the Israeli enemy,” he added.

Minister of the Displaced Akram Shehayyeb stressed Thursday that all political powers are demanding that Beirut becomes arms-free.

He said: “This is an historic issue that cannot be solved except politically.”

“Controlling the arms is required, and maintaining arms against the enemy is also required. It is important to distinguish between arms aimed at defending Lebanon and those that are disorganized and spread throughout the country,” he noted.

Shehayyeb, who is a member of Jumblatt’s Democtaric Gathering parliamentary bloc Addressed MP Walid Jumblatt’s suggestion that neighborhood committees be formed, Shehayyeb said: “His main goal is to halt the internal strife.”

Furthermore, the minister said that the government’s lifespan is not linked to the indictment in the investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is now in the hands of the international community or the U.N. We have only voiced concern that the indictment may be politicized with the aim of to creating an internal strife,” Shehayyeb said.

Seeking to broker a Mideast peace agreement that has eluded U.S. presidents for decades, the Obama administration is overseeing the first direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in nearly two years.

After a day and evening in White House talks with President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sit down together Thursday for the first of what American officials hope will be a series of meetings that lead in a year’s time to an agreement on the creation of a Palestinian state.

“This moment of opportunity may not soon come again,” Obama said at the White House Wednesday night.

Obama said he was “cautiously hopeful” about the talks, which begin with dim expectations and have been marred by two shooting attacks against Israelis in as many days.

Mediated at the State Department by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and special Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell, the two leaders’ discussions face numerous obstacles, not least renewed violence and provocations from Israelis and Palestinians opposed to the goal of an independent Palestine and secure Israel.

Gunmen from the militant Palestinian Hamas group, which opposes the talks, killed four Israeli residents of a West Bank settlement on Tuesday as Netanyahu, Abbas and the leaders of Egypt and Jordan convened in Washington. And on Wednesday, hours before the leaders were to eat dinner together at the White House, gunmen wounded two Israelis as they drove in their car in another part of the West Bank. Hamas claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

After the first attack, security forces loyal to Abbas, who heads a moderate government in the West Bank, quickly rounded up 250 Hamas members and supporters. Netanyahu said the violence would not disrupt the talks. AP/ MSNBC

Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr charged on Thursday two Lebanese and two Palestinians with spying for Israel.

If convicted, the four will be sentenced to life with hard labor if convicted .

The Palestinians: Wael Abdullah is in custody but Hasan Naufal is still at large .

The Lebanese: Tony Butros is in custody while Joseph Qassis is still at large

More spies arrested

According to local reports Internal Security Forces (ISF) Intelligence Branch detained Thursday Ibrahim Hassan Noura and his son, Jaafar, in the southern town of Marjayoun on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.

The detainees were reportedly transferred to the Intelligence Branch in Saida for investigation.

Lebanon has filed a complaint to the United Nations over Israeli spy networks in the country, in the first such move against the Jewish state.
Lebanon’s U.N. ambassador, Nawaf Salam, delivered copies of the complaint to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and current president of the Security Council, Turkish ambassador Ertugrul Apakan.

Lebanon has filed a complaint to the United Nations over Israeli spy networks in the country, in the first such move against the Jewish state.

Lebanon’s U.N. ambassador, Nawaf Salam, delivered copies of the complaint to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and current president of the Security Council, Turkish ambassador Ertugrul Apakan.

The complaint, which was prepared by the foreign ministry, said the spy networks “constitute an aggression on Lebanon and on its sovereignty and a clear violation of international resolutions, particularly resolution 1701.”

The letter also said that the spy networks had carried out assassinations and spied on high-ranking Lebanese personalities, including President Michel Suleiman.

It added that the spies have also monitored phone calls and forged official documents.

A list comprising the names of more than 100 people who have been convicted or accused of spying for Israel was enclosed with the complaint.

Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the state should confront the spread of arms throughout Lebanese territories wondering whether the country could afford the presence of a big quantity of weapons in the hands of armed groups and individuals.

“Can we afford all this amount of weapons in Lebanon? Addressing this issue would be by recognizing the presence of weapons spread all over Lebanon, confronting this fundamental problem, dealing with it and finding pragmatic solutions,” Hariri said during an Iftar he hosted in Qoreitem in honor of Beirut families.

Army chief Gen. Jean Kahwaji was also invited.

While admitting “there was a gap” in the authorities’ reaction to the Borj Abi Haidar clashes last week, Hariri said: “The army reinforced its forces by around 1500 soldiers in Beirut, and the Internal Security Forces also enhanced its forces with six additional divisions.”

His remarks come after a bloody street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official.

“Stability in the capital is a sign to the whole world that our country is strong and coherent, and our national unity is solid and durable,”Hariri said adding that providing more military equipment to military forces will improve the situation.

President Michel Suleiman and Defense Minister Elias al-Murr began efforts to procure new aid for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), including a donation fund for additional equipment and the involvement of friendly countries.

“The only way to face all kinds of external threats and intimidations is through internal strength,” he added.

Hariri called on the parliament to approve the 2010 state budget in order to start implementing the plan to solve the electricity issue, a possible reference to Energy Minister Gebran Bassil’s plan to develop the energy sector, which was approved by the cabinet on June 22.

Before the Iftar, Hariri discussed the security situation in the country with Kahwaji.

During an interview with CNN Arabic news , Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said that last week’s Borj Abi Haidar clashes harmed Hezbollah’s image, adding that the violence revealed that the party has a military presence in the capital that cannot be justified or accepted, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Geagea’s office.

“ Hezbollah should intervene domestically through politics and not through military force ,” Geagea said, reiterating his call to make Beirut an arms-free city.

His statement comes after a bloody street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official.

Geagea said that he wants Hezbollah to retain its power, but added that he favors organizing the Resistance’s strength and granting it a legitimate political cover.

“Hezbollah cannot confiscate the decision of defending Lebanon at a time when the party is not a legitimate authority and when there is no unanimous agreement between the Lebanese on granting such tasks to Hezbollah ,” the LF leader said

However, Geagea said that the transitional plan he proposed August 19 to the national dialogue committee would allow Hezbollah to operate under legitimate political cover.

The LF leader’s plan calls for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to reinforce its deployment in the South and for Hezbollah units be placed under the Lebanese army’s command.

He added that his plan abides by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and only allows for a Hezbollah military presence north of the Litani River under the command of the LAF.

“Unfortunately, President Michel Suleiman did not seriously consider my transitional plan ,” Geagea said ad added: ” This is the first time a proposal that includes all point of views is made.”

Only Berri

“Speaker Nabih Berri is the only official who expressed interest in my transitional plan because he is open to all suggestions and possibilities at all times,” Geagea told CNN in the interview.

The LF leader hoped Berri would convince Hezbollah about the seriousness of his suggestion, which according to Geagea has no alternative.

STL

Asked about the indictment that will be filed by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ( STL) over the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri, the LF leader said: “The decision can’t be anticipated.”

“There is no excuse for the current political bickering over the indictment. All what is being said are rumors,” Geagea added.

STL prosecutor Daniel Bellemare reacted to the recent rumors the same way during an interview on Sept 1 : People should remember this: “Unless they can read into my brain, everything else is just speculation”.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese army conducted on Wednesday a joint live fire exercise in southern Lebanon.

The Field Artillery Group, part of UNIFIL’s Quick Reaction Force, and army Artillery took part in the exercise named “Neptune Thunder” in an area about one kilometer south of UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura.

UNIFIL Chief of Staff Brigadier-General Xavier de Woillemont stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination between UNIFIL and army, saying the exercise falls in the context of enhancing these combined efforts.

“This joint exercise is a good opportunity for both UNIFIL and the Lebanese army to further strengthen their cooperation and mutual knowledge,” the Chief of Staff said.

“To maintain their efficiency, it is important for military units to constantly hone their skills and expertise through regular training,” he added.

The targets were located at sea in order to limit noise to any inhabited area.

The safety at sea was provided by Lebanese Navy ships supported by the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force. Naharnet

The March 14 General Directorate praised on Wednesday Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare for his “strong professionalism” in the investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “His latest stands are “an indication of the failure of intimidation campaigns that are aimed at targeting the STL and its credibility, and the impossibility of influencing the independent investigation.”

Bellemare reacted to the recent rumors about the indictment by saying : People should remember this: “Unless they can read into my brain, everything else is just speculation.” Bellemare said he has not yet drafted the indictment ”

This comes after Hezbollah and its allies launched a well organized campaign against STL and its prosecutor . Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech last August that the indictement of Hezbollah in the murder of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri was written in 2008.

The pro-Syrian As Safir newspaper claimed last July that STL is expected to announce its first indictment of Hezbollah in September . Last month As Safir claimed that the STL decisions lie in the hands of the U.S..based on As Safir report , MP Walid Jumblatt joined the list of critics last month and repeated what the daily reported when he said “Washington is behind a decision to be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon convicting people in the murder of former PM Rafik Hariri “.

Hezbollah – Al Ahbash clashes
March 14 General Directorate condemned the recent clashes at Borj Abi Haidar, saying that March 14 has already demanded that Beirut should be an arms-free city , which “would represent the first step in making the whole of Lebanon free of illegitimate weapons.”

“Laying down of illegitimate arms has become a popular, political, and economic demand,” the general directorate said in a statement after its weekly meeting.

Polish tourists

March 14 General Directorate also condemned Tuesday’s kidnapping of the two Polish tourists in the Baalbeck-Hermel region, saying it was a dangerous sign of some groups’ terrorist tendencies against Lebanese and foreigners.

It was also a sign of the presence of disruptors of the peace throughout Lebanon that are aimed at targeting the authority and credibility of the Lebanese state.

Lebanon’s judiciary on Wednesday requested Interpol’s help in arresting alleged Israeli spy, retired Lebanese army Brig. Gen. Ghassan Jirjis al-Jidd.

The request was made by Attorney General Saeed Mirza after Military Magistrate Nabil Wehbe issued an arrest warrant against al-Jidd on charges of collaboration with the Israeli Mossad.

Al-Akhbar newspaper journalist Hasan Ellaiq wrote last August that al-Jidd was left at large for three years despite the fact that he was suspected to be an Israeli spy, adding that an investigation should be made in order to identify “why and how he escaped.”

“We have evidence that Ghassan al-Jidd, was present at the Rafik Hariri crime scene. We presented the evidence to the Lebanese authorities, but Jedd escaped from Lebanon before he was caught.” Hezbollah leader said in his Aug 9 speech in which he accused Israel of killing Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri on Feb 14, 2005

According to Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV al-Jidd was born in 1940 and became an Israeli spy in the early 1990s, before he escaped from Lebanon in 2009. Al Manar claimed that in March 2004, Israeli officers entered Lebanon through the sea and were hosted by al-Jidd for 50 hours in a location in Mount Lebanon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt visited The Iranian and Syrian embassies today .

He first visited the Iranian embassy and met Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Abadi.

Following his visit he praised Iran’s position in supporting the Resistance in Lebanon and the Palestinian people.

Jumblatt, one of the most outspoken Lebanese leaders against Iran and Syria between 2005 and 2009 said: “My visit is aimed at clearing the dark clouds that have marred our relations with Iran as a result of a few problems,” stressing his intention to open a new page of ties with the Islamic Republic “to bolster national and Islamic unity.”

The embassy issued a statement after the meeting in which it said that the two officials discussed local and regional developments and Iran’s scientific, industrial, and technological achievements.

He later visited the Syrian embassy in Beirut and met with Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul-Karim Ali.

A statement issued by the Progressive Socialist Party said Jumblatt and Ali discussed the current political developments in Lebanon and the region.

Yesterday Jumblatt accused Israel of seeking to create internal strife between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon, as well as targeting the country’s security and stability.

According to local reports the Internal Security Forces’ (ISF) Information Branch found Iman Hassan Qobeissy in a hotel in the South Lebanon town of Jezzine by tracking a phone call she made, after faking her abduction.

Qobeissy’s father claimed on Tuesday that his daughter and her children, Hadi and Yara Ghandour, were kidnapped by unidentified individuals in South Lebanon.

Qobeissy was reportedly detained for questioning

Real kidnapping

Two Polish tourists who were kidnapped were rescued by the army in eastern Lebanon, and the pair is safe, Poland’s consul to Beirut said on Wednesday.
“It was a normal accident which can happen anywhere,” Lech Faszcza told Agence France Presse.

He said the Lebanese military could not identify precisely where the pair had been abducted Tuesday night but ruled out any political motivation.

“The two tourists said they were not careful when they were driving, lost their way and had no map, no GPS and so on… and they were not too scared, frankly,” he said.

The tourists, both in their early 30s, were frequent travelers and on their first visit to Lebanon on vacation, Faszcza said.

The Poles were freed by the army shortly after being kidnapped Tuesday by two members of the influential Jaafar clan in the eastern Bekaa Valley town of Baalbek.

When the abductors failed to stop their car at a checkpoint, soldiers opened fire, killing one of the kidnappers, identified as Rashid Reda Jaafar in an army communiqué. The other abductor had fled and was being sought.

The army confirmed that the tourists were temporarily taken to an army barracks in the Bekaa before being released.

Information Minister Tarek Mitri briefed the media following the Cabinet meeting that was chaired by President Michel Sulleiman at Baabda Palace.

Borj Abi Haidar clash

“Authorities will interrogate 50 people in Beirut’s Borj Abi Haidar’s street battles after cameras caught pictures of them, Information Minister Tarek Mitri announced Wednesday.”

“50 people will be interrogated after surveillance cameras caught pictures of them indicating their possible involvement in these events,”

“The Cabinet was briefed by Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar on the arrests of 12 suspects in last Tuesday’s fighting which was sparked by a dispute over a parking space and quickly developed into street battles with machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades.”

This development comes after a bloody street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official.

The cabinet agreed that clashes similar to the Bourj Abi Haidar fighting must be dealt with by the national-unity government, Mitri said, adding that “maintaining civil peace is the responsibility of all political parties.”

New appointments
The Cabinet also approved new administrative and judicial appointments.

Among the appointments were:
- Magistrate Mary Denise Moushi Chairperson of the Legislation and Legal Adviser at the Justice Ministry
- Magistrate Ali Ibrahim Deputy Director of Finance
- Judge Abdul Latif al-Husseini Government Commissioner of the State Shoura Council.
- Danny Nicola Gideon , General Manager of the Ministry of Industry.
- Ahmad Adnan Tamer , Director of the Tripoli Port Investment Authority

Hariri
Prime Minister Saad Hariri told the cabinet that his Syria visit was planned and that he discussed latest regional and domestic developments with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hariri traveled to Syria Sunday night to have a pre-dawn Suhour meal with Assad.

New commission
The cabinet also agreed to form a commission headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and including Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and Environment Minister Mohammad Rahhal to take suitable measures concerning consequences of heavy rainfall.

Carlos Slim Helu (Carlos Slim), a telecom tycoon and billionaire with well-known frugal tendencies, has a net worth of $60.6 billion according to Forbes. Assuming no changes in his net worth, he could spend $1,150 a minute for the next 100 years before he ran out of money. To put this in perspective, he could spend in 13 minutes what a US minimum-wage earner brings home after an entire year of the daily grind.

Granted, the world’s billionaires (all 1,011 of them) are in the debatably enviable position of having, quite literally, more money than they can possibly spend, yet some are still living well below their means, and save money in surprising places. Even non-billionaires (currently 6,864,605,142 of us) can partake in these seven spending tips from frugal billionaires.

1. Keep Your Home Simple
Billionaires can afford to live in the most exclusive mansions imaginable – and many do, including Bill Gates’ sprawling 66,000 square foot, $147.5 million dollar mansion in Medina, Washington – yet frugal billionaires like Warren Buffet choose to keep it simple. Buffet still lives in the five-bedroom house in Omaha that he purchased in 1957 for $31,500. Likewise, Carlos Slim has lived in the same house for more than 40 years. (Want to learn more about the Oracle of Omaha?

2. Use Self-Powered or Public Transportation
Thrifty billionaires including John Caudwell, David Cheriton and Chuck Feeney prefer to walk, bike or use public transportation when getting around town. Certainly these wealthy individuals could afford to take a helicopter to their lunch meetings, or ride in chauffeur-driven Bentleys, but they choose to get a little exercise and take advantage of public transportation instead. Good for the bank account and great for the environment.

3. Buy Your Clothes off the Rack
While some people, regardless of their net value, place a huge emphasis on wearing designer clothes and shoes, some frugal billionaires decide it’s simply not worth the effort, or expense. You can find David Cheriton, the Stanford professor who matched Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to the venture capitalists at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (resulting in a large reward of Google stock), wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the furniture company Ikea, avoids wearing suits, and John Caudwell, mobile phone mogul, buys his clothes off the rack instead of spending his wealth on designer clothes.

4. Keep your Scissors Sharp
The average haircut costs about $45, but people can and do spend up to $800 per cut and style. Multiply that by 8.6 (to account for a cut every six weeks) and it adds up to $7,200 per year, not including tips. These billionaires can certainly afford the most stylish haircuts, buy many cannot be bothered by the time it takes or the high price tag for the posh salons. Billionaires like John Caudwell and David Cheriton opt for cutting their own hair at home.

5. Drive a Regular Car
While billionaires like Larry Ellison (co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation) enjoy spending millions on cars, boats and planes, others remain low key with their vehicles of choice. Jim Walton (of the Wal-Mart clan) drives a 15-year-old pickup truck. Azim Premji, an Indian business tycoon, reportedly drives a Toyota Corolla. And Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea drives a 10-year-old Volvo. The idea is to buy a dependable car, and drive it into the ground. No need for a different car each day of the week for these frugal billionaires.

6. Skip Luxury Items
It may surprise some of us, but the world’s wealthiest person, Carlos Slim (the one who could spend more than a thousand dollars a minute and not run out of money for one hundred years) does not own a yacht or a plane.

Many other billionaires have chosen to skip these luxury items. Warren Buffet also avoids these lavish material items, stating “Most toys are just a pain in the neck.”

What We Can Learn
Some of the world’s billionaires have frugal tendencies. Perhaps this thrifty nature even helped them make some of their money. Regardless, they have chosen to avoid some unnecessary spending (at least on their scale) and the 6,864,605,142 non-billionaires out there can follow suit, eliminating excessive, keep-up-with-the-Jones style spending. No matter what a person’s income bracket is, most can usually find a way to cut back on frivolous spending, just like a few frugal billionaires.

US President Barack Obama plunges into Middle East peacemaking today with two days of summitry he hopes will be the first step in brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement within a year.

Among his first tasks is to convince increasingly cynical Israeli and Palestinian publics -which have grown weary after 17 years of photo ops, handshakes and unfulfilled accords – that a two-state solution to the conflict remains possible.

Obama today will hold a series of meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II before an evening dinner at the White House.

On Thursday, direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians – stalled for nearly two years – will be formally restarted in a ceremony at the State Department.

There are many obstacles to success, most immediate among them the looming Sept. 26 expiration of a 10-month Israeli moratorium on construction in West Bank settlements, which Palestinians see as a key obstacle to statehood.
sfgate

In this exclusive interview with Now Lebanon by Arthur Blok , Daniel Bellemare, The Canadian prosecutor of The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) revealed that the indictment in the case of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has not been drafted yet . In other words, no indictment is expected to be announced in September as some newspapers have been speculating .

Bellemare reacts in disbelief to some recent rumors that have been circulating in the Lebanese media and said : People should remember this: “Unless they can read into my brain, everything else is just speculation”

When will the indictment be handed in?

Daniel Bellemare: I have read articles saying that some people had already seen the indictment. Let me state clearly that the indictment has not been drafted yet. As I have previously said, I will only file the indictment when I am satisfied that there is enough evidence.

So you are still not satisfied? We are now in 2010, more than five years after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. How much more time do you need?

Bellemare: I have a very impressive team that has been working in the past months with all their energies to generate the evidence. Currently I am working on what I would call the evidentiary process; I have to make sure that the evidence I will produce is admissible in court. That is exactly the key. If I file an indictment and there is no evidence, the whole structure collapses, and we will [have] found ourselves in trouble.

I want to make sure there is as much convincing evidence as possible.

Tribunal President Antonio Cassese said in May that you would file it before year’s end. Was he too optimistic?

Bellemare: All I can tell you is that I am still very optimistic. We are moving as fast as we can. Let’s say as soon as possible, but not sooner than possible.

But was he too optimistic or not?

Bellemare: I will not comment on that. I am optimistic as well.

Almost daily, new articles pop up in the Lebanese media quoting “sources close to the STL,” “exclusive secret reports” or “anonymous diplomatic sources.” What do you say to that?

Bellemare: I think it is sad for the people who read those newspapers. All these things are more confusing than anything else. They are purely speculations, and frankly, while reading these papers I learn myself as much [as] everybody else. I made a list of at least 30 of those things; some of them are truly outrageous.

Let me give you one example. Not that long ago I read a piece that said I was about to resign. When I read it in the morning I was very surprised. Imagine all the phone calls we received. They phoned to the head office of the UN in New York. It did not seem to end.

The problem of these so-called sources is that people think that everybody who talks in the media about the case is a source. That is sad. Sometimes I wonder, “Why do they do this?” But of course, I am not going to speculate myself.

The one who knows about the case is me. People should remember this. Unless they can read into my brain, everything else is just speculation.

Sometimes these reports are very convincing, especially the ones about talks between France and Saudi Arabia on the fate of the STL, and the role of Washington. Are you really completely independent?

Bellemare: Journalists have asked me this question before. I said, and I will repeat it, the day I am faced with political interference I cannot deal with, I will resign. To those who say I am influenced by this or that person, I will tell them, “Sorry, but I am not!”

All of them should remember that I was retired when I accepted this job. I do not depend on it for my career. If I wanted to, I would just go back to my retirement, and I can tell you that my wife would be quite happy to have me back.

What bothers me is that people tend to focus on the negative instead of the positive. For example, the last job that we advertised here, we received over 100 applicants. For the position of chief of the investigation, we had more than 33 applicants from all over the world. When we asked these people in their interview, “Why did you come to the STL?” they all tell us, “We like the team that we see, and we want to be part of that.” I would like to illustrate this with the saying: Success breeds success. Those highly-qualified people, those applicants, sure do not think there is a malaise in the tribunal. You do not want to join a place that is dysfunctional, do you?

Do you have a strong case? Do you have more than some telephone calls? I remember that former chief investigator Detlev Mehlis was very open in his first report in 2005 with what he found. He showed the world his case, which was based on some statements and a telephone call. Maybe it is not the best thing to throw it all out in the open?

Bellemare: Sure, you do not want me to make the same mistake. I simply cannot go into the details of the investigation, so I cannot answer that question.

Would you see a telephone call as conclusive evidence?

Bellemare: Well, I would call circumstantial evidence conclusive. I think there has been some confusion on what circumstantial evidence means. I have read in a Lebanese newspaper that circumstantial evidence was no good. In the system I come from, circumstantial evidence is a number of little facts that, when you look at them on their own, they might mean nothing. But when you put them together, then the whole picture becomes irrefutable.

Let me illustrate that with an example: You want to prove that it rained today. You prove that the pavement is wet, you prove that there was nobody who cleaned the street, etc. In itself each of these facts does not mean anything, but if you put them all together, you can conclude at the end of the day that it rained. This is what circumstantial evidence is. I am strongly of the view that circumstantial evidence is more powerful than direct evidence.

So from that perspective, you would definitely call a telephone call circumstantial evidence?

Bellemare: That would be part of the whole thing. You have to look at the whole package. But again, I do not want to go into the content of the case.

In September 2008, Mehlis told me in Berlin that he did not understand what former Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was doing after him. According to Mehlis, the case needed maximum six months to a year of investigation to be ready for court. He said that there were “enough statements” and that only the telephone link needed to be further investigated. Was he wrong?

Bellemare: The policy I have taken is not to comment on what my predecessors have done. Obviously, if I would have been of that view, we would be in court right now.

Currently the situation in Lebanon is explosive. A new round of tension started when Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah attacked the STL in his July speech, calling it an “Israeli project” and warning that his men would be falsely indicted. What was your first reaction when you heard his speech?

Bellemare: I cannot say that I listened to it carefully, because I do not understand Arabic. But I read the transcript with interest.

Did it change anything for you?

Bellemare: No.

About the evidence that Nasrallah sent you through Lebanese Public Prosecutor Said Mirza: In a press release last week you asked him for the rest. Does that mean that what you received was not solid or convincing enough?

Bellemare: We asked for all of the information that he had, including the audio and video material. What we got was what was shown on TV, while he said at one point that there was more. And “more” was not part of what we received. So I asked for that.

Could you use what was given to you?

Bellemare: The position I have taken is that I do not have tunnel vision, meaning that when you have a theory, you try to fit all the evidence you have to that theory. This is something we have to get absolutely away from. If somebody comes to me with credible evidence that shows me that I may not be on the right path, whatever path I am on, then of course I will look at that material. That is exactly what we are doing. Mr. Nasrallah says I have material, and we are looking at it. But in order to make an assessment you need to work with a complete record. That is why we asked for the rest.

Are you saying between the lines that he has tunnel vision?

Bellemare: No, absolutely not. I am not commenting on Mr. Nasrallah or Hezbollah. I am only saying that my investigation cannot show tunnel vision. I have to be open-minded and look at everything.

Will it delay the indictment even more?

Bellemare: I cannot comment on this. Simply because I do not know how long it will take to review the material.

Did you interview anybody in Israel or any Israeli citizen?

Bellemare: At this point this is part of the ongoing investigation. What I said before is that I will go where the evidence leads me.

That is very nice, but my question was: Did you talk to any Israeli?

Bellemare: I am not ready to answer that question. It is part of the investigation.

Why not a simple “yes” or “no”? It is a very delicate issue for the Lebanese. You are not denying that you questioned individuals from Hezbollah, and it is not that the investigation team ever made a secret that it talked to Syrian nationals. Is it not exactly the same thing?

Bellemare: What I am saying is that we are reviewing all the possible existing evidence.

So if somebody like Hassan Nasrallah comes out with a DVD accusing Israel of involvement in the Hariri assassination, it is very likely that you investigate that lead, because you do not have tunnel vision. Am I right?

Bellemare: What I can say is that we are not taking this lightly. I want to make a serious analysis of this. The biggest frustration that I have – maybe not the biggest, but a very serious one – is when we are qualified as being politicized. It is frustrating to have this accusation coming at you. The fact of the matter is we are not politicized. We operate in a political context, no question about that. But the decision that will be made is not a political decision. It would be a political decision if the decision would be influenced by politics. The decision that will be made is completely out of these things. It is made independently; nobody will tell me what to do.

You have spoken to many Hezbollah officials. Did they ever mention the information Nasrallah came up with?

Bellemare: No, it is not related at all. They were interviewed like any other witnesses. It has nothing to do [with] what we saw from Mr. Nasrallah on TV.

Did the wave of arrests in Lebanon of Israeli spies in the past year influence you at all? For example, the telephone calls in the investigation; what if it turned out there were some people who could alter these calls before they reached your desk?

Bellemare: This is all part of the investigation. My only worry is that the evidence I put forward is credible and solid.

Do you realize that the relatively slow pace of the investigation made the March 14 coalition lose its momentum?

Bellemare: I am not influenced by what is said on TV. If I was to gauge my investigation along this, then I would be politicized. I have to go through the steps to make sure the result is a credible stop. And that the people – the victims and their relatives – will have an outcome they are able to believe. I saw those reports from March 14 saying, “We won’t accept the indictment if it is not based on solid proof.” They have put out several statements. I agree with this.

The pace of the investigation is fairly steady at this point. We have made huge progress. You have to put things in context. Look at other large investigations: the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia or the Oklahoma bombing. They all took time.

The Hariri case is probably one of the biggest murder investigations currently under development. Look at the Lockerbie trial; it took years before the whole process was finished. Even though I have to be very careful when I compare the Hariri case with something else.

Still, do you realize that your pace has its consequences in Lebanon? March 14’s momentum is lost.

Bellemare: I fully understand the question, but if that was what would drive my pace, I would be politicized. Frankly, I would like to reach a result tomorrow. But I want to reach a result that is credible and solid. At the end of the day, we will talk through our indictment. That would be our response to everything.

What about former witness Mohammed Zuheir Siddiq? Last week he claimed that Hezbollah is sponsoring “false witnesses.”

Bellemare: I will not comment on what Mr. Siddiq says. Basically, he is not somebody we will produce in court as a witness.

Hussam Hussam was, just like Siddiq, stamped a false witness. Still, he is walking free in Syria, making statements every once in a while. What do you say to that?

Bellemare: Who stamped him and Siddiq false witnesses? I never used that expression. At this point, he is not a suspect. Just like Siddiq. I will just leave it to that.

What about the Lebanese justice minister? He was asked to look into the issue of the false witnesses. Are you happy with that?

Bellemare: He was tasked by the Lebanese cabinet. We have to respect the decision of the Lebanese government. Of course, I have the primacy over the investigation. So we will see where this leads.

In case of a delay in the indictment, is it likely there will be new arrests?

Bellemare: That is something I cannot answer. Many people have told me that justice has to be transparent. I agree with that. But the question is: What has to be transparent? Not the investigative process. It is the judicial process that has to be transparent. I think many people are confused with that.

Do you realize that people can easily disappear in Lebanon or Syria?

Bellemare: All I can say is that there are a lot of considerations I have to take into account.

Are you afraid what will happen after you file your indictment? Last week we saw how tense the situation on the ground still is.

Bellemare: I look at the situation. I read the papers, and I am sensitive to what is going on. I would be irresponsible if I would not be sensitive to what is going on.

Does that make you hesitate to actually file the indictment?

Bellemare: I will let nobody rush me with anything. It is a full circle. You just asked me about the impact of not going fast enough. Let me say that the impact of going too fast would be much worse. As I said before: The indictment has to be based on solid evidence.
Now Lebanon

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Tuesday after the movement’s weekly meeting: “Only those charged with defending Lebanon should be armed and Hezbollah would be the greatest loser if it used its weapons on the internal scene”.

Aoun was talking as if he is not living in Beirut, since his remarks come after a bloody street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official.

According to local reports the c.lash  was caused by a fight over a parking space.

Many leaders called for arms free and militia free Beirut and wondered why Hezbollah militants ( the so called Resistance ) are in Beirut fighting over a parking space with their former allies the Al-Ahbash and asked : Is this a resistance or an armed gang?

But Aoun criticized the calls for Beirut to be an arms-free city, asking why shouldn’t the whole of Lebanon be arms-free.

“Why should Beirut’s motto be arms-free? Don’t Tripoli, Mount Lebanon and other regions have the right to be arms-free? ” He said

“Just because we are a sectarian country doesn’t mean that the army cannot perform its duties and if we lose national unity, then the army cannot exercise its responsibilities,” he added.

Regarding the role of the army in maintaining the peace, Aoun said: “There are areas that are more receptive of the idea of official security due to the nature of the people and a number of other reasons. The army cannot be deployed in areas of conflict unless there is a minimum degree of approval on it.” He is referring to the Hezbollah strongholds

Resolution 1559

Addressing Resolution 1559, (which he helped write in 2004 while in exile) he said : “The resolution has nothing to do with restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty. We were surprised with this plan, but welcomed the withdrawal of the Syrian army.”

In addition to calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops the 1559 resolution also called for disarming all the militia including Hezbollah and the Palestinian militants. These were national demands that Aoun called for while in exile , but Aoun has changed his mind after allying himself with Hezbollah in 2006.

The resolution has come under attack by Syria and Hezbollah during the past several months.

Karam
Aoun condemned media leaks on the investigation of retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam—who is a senior Free Patriotic Movement official—saying that the relevant officials are irresponsibly dealing with the issue of the leaks.

Karam was arrested on August 5 on charges of spying for Israel.

The Lebanese Higher Defense Council (HDC) on Tuesday decided to tighten security across Lebanon and enforce stricter security measures in Beirut and the South.

The Council meeting was chaired by President Michel Suleiman and was attended by : PM Saad Hariri, Defense Minister Elias Murr, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Finance Minister Raya al-Hasan, Foreign Minister Ali Shami, Economic Minister Mohammed Safadi and Secretar- General of the Council Maj. Gen. Adnan Merheb ( pictured) .

The internal security chiefs also attended the meeting which was held at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

The Council addressed a plan to equip the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with suitable weapons and voiced the importance of security forces taking firm measures against any security shortcomings in Lebanon,.

The HDC members have reportedly greed to allocate specific security tasks to the relevant ministries and authorities.

This comes after a street battle that shook the Borj Abi Haidar neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah against the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash militants —also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. 3 people were killed in the clash including a Hezbollah senior official

Lebanon Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Tuesday during the 32nd anniversary of the disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr that he rejects attempts to brand the Shiites as “rebels against the Lebanese regime and that their weapons are a threat to the State and other sects.”

“We assure you that the project of state-building is a benefit and an article of faith for the Shiites,” he added, voicing support for the cabinet to fulfill its duties to serve the social needs of the Lebanese people.

However, he said that “the Resistance is a Lebanese need and necessity.”

His comments come after the clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar last on August 24 between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

The clash , which was the worst since May 2008( when Hezbollah gunmen swept through Sunni neighborhoods of Beirut after a government crack down on the group’s telecommunications network) outraged the majority of the Lebanese, and many called for arms free and militia free Beirut.

Al-Ahbash are Sunnis while Hezbollah is a Shiite group.

Turning to the issue of Imam Sadr , Berri said:
“Imam Sadr and his two companions are in Libya. Their case will remain open until their return.”

He said Sadr’s disappearance case “cannot be closed neither can we acquit the Libyan regime of responsibility, even if it gained international cover.”

“Isn’t it time for criminals to face the truth?,” he shouted.

Berri called for a “total boycott” at every level of any Arab or international parliamentary or government meeting being held in Libya.

Still alive

Imam Moussa Sadr, who disappeared during a visit to Libya 32 years ago, was still alive and being held captive by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his son Sadreddine Sadr said Monday in an interview that was published Monday by National News Agency.

Four Israeli civilians in a car were shot dead in the West Bank on Tuesday on the eve of a U.S. sponsored Middle East peace summit in Washington, an Israel Army spokeswoman said.

“This was a terrorist attack and the army is treating it as a grave incident,” Lt-Colonel Avital Leibovitch told reporters in a telephone briefing.

Two men and two women, one pregnant, were killed in the drive-by shooting on a busy highway in the occupied Palestinian territory used by Palestinians and Israeli settlers, she said.

The United States and its allies in the search for a Middle East peace treaty have urged all parties to refrain from any action that could disrupt the resumption of direct negotiations after a hiatus of 20 months. But Israelis and Palestinians alike have predicted that opponents of a peace deal would try to derail the talks through violence.

“Security was stable for the past few years and we hope this will not cause any deterioration,” Leibovitch said. An Israeli minister also said he hoped the attack would not derail the talks.

Israeli forces in the West Bank were treating it as a grave incident and were searching for the perpetrators, Leibovitch said. She could not say how many shots were fired at the vehicle.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said: “We can confirm there are four dead at the scene.” The attack occurred after dark near the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron, where Israeli settlers live in a tiny enclave amid Palestinian residents, under the protection of Israeli army troops.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

But the Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip praised the killings. Hamas rejects the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank and opposes the direct peace talks due to resume formally on Sept 2.

“Hamas praises the attack and regards it as a natural response to the crimes of the occupation,” said Sami Abu-Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza.

He said the attack was proof “of a failure of security coordination” between Israel and the Palestinians — a reference to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority whose U.S.-trained forces have been credited with suppressing armed militants in their territory.

Israel army spokeswoman Leibovitch said that “this praise speaks for itself”.

“If you praise the killing of innocent civilians this is not a peacekeeping operation,” she said.

Police spokesman Rosenfeld said the incident occurred near the Kiryat Arba settlement. Israel’s Channel Two television said the Israelis had been shot from a passing vehicle.

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, are due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama for dinner at the White House on Wednesday, and open formal talks on Sept. 2 — their first direct negotiations since talks broke off in late 2008. But the Palestinians are split, Hamas condemning the talks as a sell-out.

“The Hebron attack is a natural response to the crimes of the occupiers and evidence of the presence of resistance despite the war of liquidation,” said Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing.

Speeches from loudspeakers at a mosque in the northern Gaza Strip celebrated news of the attack.

Israeli Education Minister Gideon Saar, a close ally of Netanyahu who is already in Washington, said it was a shocking incident but should not halt diplomacy.

“It is very regrettable, how not for the first time, against the background of diplomatic talks aming to advance peace, the nearly automatic response of Palestinians was a terrorist attack on civilians,” Saar said.

Saar, interviewed by Israel’s Channel 10 television, said he thought “no prize should go to the murderers by not holding diplomatic talks”.

Leibovitch said she understood Netanyahu had been informed of the shooting. Reuters

Photo: Israeli ZAKA rescue service members (L) and police are seen near the vehicle which was carrying four Israelis killed in a shooting attack near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron August 31, 2010.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reportedly described the clashes between his party and Al-Ahbash gunmen as “unfortunate” but said they showed there were “premeditated intentions.”

Nasrallah’s remarks came during an iftar banquet to families of martyrs on Monday, al-Akhbar daily said Tuesday.

This comes following the deadly clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar on Tuesday August 24 between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Both Al-Ahbash and Hezbollah enjoy close relations with the Syrian regime.

Nasrallah said that some parties seem to be waiting for an opportunity to attack the resistance and its arms, the al-Akhbar reported.

As-Safir newspaper quoted on Tuesday an unnamed source as saying that Prime Minister Saad Hariri told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the former’s Syria visit that last week’s Borj Abi Haidar clashes target him.

Lebanese soldiers patrol the area after clashes erupted between supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah and Sunni conservative Al-Ahbash group, in Borj Abu Haidar area near Beirut's downtown, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010.

This comes following the deadly clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar on Tuesday August 24 between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Both Al-Ahbash and Hezbollah enjoy close relations with the Syrian regime.

As-Safir is also closely linked to Syria

Hariri traveled to Syria Sunday night for talks with Assad, according to a statement released by the PM’s office.

The daily added that Assad commended the Lebanese army and reinforced his support for the military institution.

On Sunday, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad accused Hariri ( without naming him) of exploiting the Borj Abi Haidar incident to promote sectarian strife in Beirut.

“Some people are insisting on making statements with slogans and incitement that only serve to fuel the fire of division and strife. These voices are not keen to protect society, the people or the state, irrespective of (the call to) protect society and build the state,” Raad said about Hariri without naming him.

The Lebanese army intelligence has reportedly arrested two young men in the Bekaa valley in Eastern Lebanon to question them over phone calls they had received from numbers used by Israeli intelligence to contact Mossad agents in Lebanon.

Al-Akhbar daily said Tuesday that the army began questioning them to determine whether they were spying for Israel or not.

Meanwhile, the military court postponed to October 11 the trial of several people arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel after one of the defendants and witnesses failed to show up to Monday’s hearing.

The court also postponed to September 20 the trial of Mossad agent Mahmoud Qassem Rafeh who is accused of assassinating Hezbollah official Ali Hussein Saleh in 2003.

Lebanon compiled earlier this month a list of over 150 cases of espionage, intended to be filed as a complaint against Israel to the UN Security Council, Arab media sources have reported.

“The list cites some 150 cases which the law has managed to put its hand on, (including people) of all communities and denominations,” Lebanese Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar told the London-based Arab daily Al-Hayyat, adding that it included findings that were “hardly believable.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during a Monday Iftar that his call to apply the law to resolve the issue of weapons proliferation is not directed at any particular side.

This comes after cabinet last Wednesday agreed to form a commission to deal with arms proliferation in the country following the clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar last Tuesday night between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

The PM released a statement following the Iftar that no part of Lebanon can be “immune to the application of the law.”

He reiterated that the cabinet must act swiftly to prevent the Bourj Abi Haidar clashes from happening again.

In another statement, Hariri stated that he asked President Michel Suleiman to convene a meeting of the Higher Defense Council to discuss the issue of arms proliferation in Lebanon.

Hariri’s request comes after chairing a meeting of the ministerial commission tasked with addressing weapons proliferation.

On Sunday, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad slammed those who he said are exploiting the Borj Abi Haidar incident to promote sectarian strife in Beirut.

“Some people are insisting on making statements with slogans and incitement that only serve to fuel the fire of division and strife. These voices are not keen to protect society, the people or the state, irrespective of (the call to) protect society and build the state,” Raad said about Hariri without naming him.

The Parliamentary Finance and Budget Commission approved on Monday the Energy Ministry’s budget in the presence of Energy Minister Gebran Bassil and Finance Minister Rayya al-Hassan, according to local reports.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan—who also heads the commission—said afterward that the decision demonstrated concern for the people’s needs.

Meanwhile, Bassil said the move would help Lebanon overcome its electricity difficulties, the report added.

Lebanon continues to witness daily blackouts throughout the country . The blackouts are supposed to last a specified number of hours but last night and today the blackout hours were extended and many place have not had electricity for over 15 hours

The UN Security Council Monday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend for another year the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

‘The Security Council decides to extend the present mandate of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until Aug 31, 2011,’ the resolution said.

The 15-nation Security Council adopted the resolution at the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who wrote to the president of the Council for the extension of UNFIL’s mandate for one year, Xinhua reported.

In that letter, the secretary general also expressed his deep concern at the exchange of fire that took place in the vicinity of El Adeisse earlier this month, UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky told a press conference here earlier Monday.

‘That exchange of fire, he wrote, shows how quickly the relatively stable and secure environment in southern Lebanon that UNIFIL has helped to establish, in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, can change.’

Ban said that the presence of the UNIFIL remains critical following the Aug 3 incident, during which Lebanese and Israeli forces exchanged fire over the border known as the Blue Line. The exchange of fire killed two Lebanese soldiers, one Israeli commander and one Lebanese journalist.

In his report to the Security Council about the Aug 3 incident, Ban said that Lebanese and Israeli forces fired at each other for three hours with heavy machine guns and rockets.

‘The Security Council strongly calls upon all parties concerned to respect the cessation of hostilities, to prevent any violation of the Blue Line and to respect it in its entirety and to cooperate fully with the United Nations and UNIFIL,’ said the resolution.

The resolution ‘deplores strongly the recent incidents involving UNIFIL peacekeepers, emphasises the importance of not impairing the ability of UNIFIL to fulfil its mandate under Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and calls on all parties to abide scrupulously by their obligation to respect the safety of UNIFIL and other UN personnel and to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL is fully respected, in conformity with its mandate and its rules and engagement.’

‘The Security Council emphasises the importance of full compliance with the prohibition on sales and supply of arms and related material established by resolution 1701,’ the resolution said.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon in 2006, prohibits storing weapons in the security zone between the Litani River and the Blue Line, which is the Lebanese- Israeli border. The area is under the observation of UNIFIL.

‘The Security Council urges the government of Israel to expedite the withdrawal of its army from northern Ghajar without further delay in coordination with UNIFIL, which has actively engaged Israel and Lebanon to facilitate such a withdrawal,’ said the resolution.

The Beirut Trade Association said in a statement issued Monday that insecurity hurts business and the government must enforce its sovereignty in order to protect national unity.

The cabinet agreed on Wednesday to form a commission to deal with arms proliferation, following the clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar on Tuesday night between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Hariri chairs meeting

Prime Minister Saad Hariri chaired on Monday at the Grand Serail a session of the ministerial commission tasked with addressing weapons proliferation in Lebanon, according to a statement issued by the PM’s office.

Defense Minister Elias al-Murr and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud were present, the statement added.

Hariri returned today from an overnight trip to Damascus after meeting with Syrian president Bashar al Assad

Hezbollah’s decision to launch a counter attack against Prime Minister Saad Hariri was not spontaneous and the party’s officials will continue to criticize the Mustaqbal movement leader in the next few days, As Safir newspaper said Monday.

On Sunday, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad slammed those who he said are exploiting the Borj Abi Haidar incident to promote sectarian strife in Beirut.

“Some people are insisting on making statements with slogans and incitement that only serve to fuel the fire of division and strife. These voices are not keen to protect society, the people or the state, irrespective of (the call to) protect society and build the state,” Raad said about Hariri without naming him.

“Tours of the areas where the clashes took place in Borj Abi Haidar aim to deepen division,” Raad added, in reference to visits by Hariri and Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Qabbani to Borj Abi Haidar.

As Safir quoted Hezbollah leadership sources as saying that in the first days of the clashes, the party tried to contain the negative stances against it.

However, it realized that there was an organized campaign against it through the speeches and statements of March 14 officials, the sources said.

They told As Safir that Hariri did not deal with the incidents as a statesman rather than as the Mustaqbal movement leader and the chief of a certain faction.

The speeches that Hariri made during Iftar banquets in the past few days contradict with his own calls for calm, the sources said.

4 arrested for burning mosque

An-Nahar newspaper reported on Saturday that army intelligence forces arrested four people for partially burning the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects’ – also known as Al-Ahbash – mosque in the al-Basta region in Beirut during Tuesday’s Bourj Abi Haidar clashes.

According to the daily, two of the suspects are Lebanese citizens named Mohammad Ahmad Nasrallah and Ali Mounir Shaheen. The other two are Kurds called Fadi Sheikh Moussa Amirat and Ali Khaled Amirat.

According to preliminary investigations, the suspects burned the mosque intentionally using combustible material, An-Nahar added.

Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during an Iftar in Qoreitem on Friday: “It is unacceptable for the state to watch weapons proliferate throughout Lebanon, ” according to a statement from his office.

He said the cabinet will act decisively in dealing with the issue.

Last Wednesday the cabinet decided to form a commission to deal with arms proliferation, following the clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar on Tuesday night between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Plastic surgery has taken Lebanon by storm during the past few years

By Aya Lowe

Arabian Gulf citizens spend an estimated Dh91.8 billion ( $25 billion) a year for treatment abroad with medical tourism picking up in countries such as India, Thailand and Singapore, according to Grant Thornton’s 2009 Healthcare Guide report. Dubai is looking to harness its competitive prices, infrastructure and tax free environment and put itself on the map as a medical tourist destination.

Dr Jaffer Khan, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the Medical International Specialist Centre in Jumeirah, is currently in the midst of launching a company called Aesthetics International, which will attract top surgeons to Dubai for a period of time to offer their services at competitive prices.

“As a concept this place is amazing for something like this. Dubai has the right formula. Customers will travel here because it’s cheaper and skilled surgeons will travel here because they will not be taxed on the work they do. Because of this, we can afford to be competitive,” Dr Khan explains.

Compared to the US and UK, costs for procedures are about 20 to 25 per cent lower, says Dr Sanjay Parashar, a specialist plastic surgeon at the Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation.

“We get most of our medical tourists coming from places like US and UK because it’s less expensive than the West. There are also a number of clients coming in from India and Pakistan because of the confidentiality factor, particularly for celebrities. Also there is no major language barrier her and the infrastructure is almost as good as anywhere in the West,” says Dr Parashar.

The International Society of Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) which has a health tourism committee is currently liaising with an international insurance agency so Aesthetics International will be able to give the health tourists in cosmetic surgery an insurance cover as long as they are being operated on ISAPS credited facilities. Patients who fly into Dubai for a procedure will be covered until they are fully recovered from the surgery.

“This will be a first, and we’re hoping to launch it in San Fransisco in August. By introducing this insurance we will take away the biggest negative point of medical tourism and where most of the complications occur. We’ll be able to have better credited facilities, to offer back up, post op care and post operation,” says Dr Khan.

A bank billboard ad for a loan in Dubai for pastic surgery

Zeina Al Haj, founder of Image Concept Dubai Inc, a Dubai-based company specializing in cosmetic tourism to Lebanon, says that many people choose to get procedures done in nearby Lebanon as costs can be anything between 30 to 50 per cent cheaper than in Dubai.

“Our packages are customized to the individual and based on the demand of the client. The most popular are nose jobs, weight loss procedures and breast augmentations. We take care of the medical booking and the tourism part, which includes travel, hotels, tours and transport. According to the promotion of the moment we try to offer them additional things like free facials etc.”

Their customer base is in the Gulf but they get requests from different countries, such as Egypt, the UK and Australia.

While many opt to travel abroad for cheaper procedures, Al Haj says she does get clients inquiring about procedures within Dubai.

“Dubai is growing and has a strong chance to compete with neighboring medical tourism destinations. It’s a great tourist destination and on the medical front, the facilities that Dubai has started to introduce in the last three years have increased. They just need to push their marketing and encourage a stable medical industry,” said Al Haj. Gulf News

Al-Hayat newspaper reported Monday that Syria said that the Bourj Abi Haidar clash was a violation of Lebanon’s stability.

This comes after the deadly clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.
The two parties enjoy warm ties with Damascus.

Al-Hayat said that Syria does not intend to take sides, adding Damascus advised both parties to cooperate with each other to maintain a calm atmosphere.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and al-Ahbash leader Sheikh Hussam Qaraqira stressed they would make efforts to help the investigation that is being carried out by the Lebanese army into the Borj Abi Haidar clashes, according to a statement by Hezbollah ’s media office.

The statement also said that the two leaders also stressed during their meeting the importance of the army’s role in safeguarding security.

They rejected verbal attacks against it.

The statement said that Nasrallah and Qaraqira confirmed the clashes last week between Hezbollah and al-Ahbash gunmen in Borj Abi Haidar “had no political background and were not sectarian in nature .”

The two sides agreed to take all measures necessary to prevent the recurrence of similar deadly incidents and decided to form a joint committee to compensate for those who sustained damages during the clashes.

This comes after the clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

Kahwaji defends LAF role
In a related development Army chief Gen. Jean Kahwaji rejected accusations of slackness by the military in dealing with the Borj Abi Haidar clashes between Hezbollah and al-Ahbash gunmen saying the army doused the fire of strife during the incidents.

The army “carried out all its responsibilities and intervened in the first minutes of the clashes,” Kahwaji told As Safir daily in remarks published Monday.

“My instructions to officers were clear that any gunman who does not comply should be shot at,” the army chief said.

He told As Safir that the military was able to prevent the flow of gunmen to Borj Abi Haidar and “contain the tension scene.” The army and not meetings among politicians ended the battles, Kahwaji stressed.

He urged all sides not to ignite the fire and then in turn ask the army to douse it. “The army through its measures and confrontation of the gunmen was able to douse strife.”

Kahwaji also said the military was still pursuing those involved in the clashes, adding that the number of people arrested has so far reached 10.

Hundreds of gunmen were involved in the fighting

Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri headed to Damascus Sunday evening at the invitation of President Bashar Assad who will host a Ramadan Suhoor ( pre-dawn meal) banquet for the Lebanese leader.

Hariri and Assad met Sunday evening and discussed ” the remarkable Syrian-Lebanese relations which affirm the depth of the historic relations between the two friendly peoples, in addition to discussing future prospects of bolstering cooperation between the two countries in all fields ” the government owned Syrian news agency SANA reported

Assad and Hariri had reportedly “affirmed their keenness on following up on what was achieved regarding bilateral relations, voicing their mutual desire to continue consultation and coordination to serve the interests of the two countries’ peoples and the interests of all Arabs, ” SANA added

The meeting also has reportedly “touched upon the positive reactions towards the tripartite summit held by President Bashar al-Assad, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in late July in Beirut,” SANA reported

SANA said Hariri “stressed that the historic visit of President al-Assad and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Lebanon affirms the keenness of Syria and Saudi Arabia towards Lebanon and supporting its national unity.”

SANA said the “talks dealt with the situation in Lebanon, with Assad affirming the need for continuing the approach of calming and dialogue to resolve problems, with the two sides underlining the importance of enhancing national accord and supporting the Resistance to guarantee Lebanon’s strength and immunity against the external dangers threatening its security and stability.”

SANA also reported that the 2 leaders discussed the situation in the region and the international arenas.

Following the talks Assad invited Hariri to have the Suhoor meal with him.

Hezbollah- Al-Ahbash battle
Hariri’s visit to Damascus comes after the clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

The clash was described by some analysts as a proxy war between Iran and Syria over the control of Lebanon. Hezbollah according to analysts is trying to out-maneuver Syria in Lebanon…. Hezbollah has reportedly become the principle bulwark resisting a Syrian comeback, because the party wants to preserve Lebanon for Iran.

No one is above the law
Prior to departing to Damascus Hariri said during an Iftar at the Grand Serial on Sunday“Lebanon will not become an arena of confrontation among its children” despite fears that Israeli aggression or internal strife may be approaching.”

The government is committed to ensuring that Tuesday’s clashes do not repeat in any form, Hariri said, adding that people must stop “using language of disparagement, slander, and provocation.”

“No one is above the law and the state must make domestic security its priority,” he added.

As a group, Americans of the Muslim faith give President Barack Obama the highest job approval rating of any major religion.

A Gallup Poll of 275,000 adults released late last week finds that while the Democrat’s overall approval rating has dropped across all faiths — even those Americans without any — Muslims continue to approve of him the most. And you’ll never guess which faith group based in Utah thinks the least of the 44th president’s job.

Seventy-eight percent of Muslims (down from 86 percent after Obama’s inauguration) approve of the president’s 19-month job performance, and 24 percent of Mormons do (down from 43).

Catholics’ approval of Obama has fallen from 67 percent to 50. Protestants’ from 58 percent to 43. Jews’ from 77 percent to 61. Other non-Christian religions’ from 74 percent to 64. And atheist/agnostic from 75 percent to 63, believe it or not.

Overall, Gallup finds Americans’ approval of Obama’s job has dropped in the same time span from 63 percent to 48.

While consistently declining across faiths, Obama, who describes his own faith as Christian, has lost most among Mormons and least among Muslims, a group his administration has made special outreach efforts toward.

A separate poll this month found that nearly 1 in 5 Americans thought Obama himself was Muslim, while nearly halfway through his term, nearly half of the country didn’t know what faith Obama holds. The White House clarified shortly thereafter that Obama is Christian.
By Andrew Malcolm
Chicago Tribune

Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad said: Any weapon that is not resistance weapon is not needed in Beirut or any other district.

This comes after the clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

Future (al Mustaqbal) parliamentary bloc on Thursday condemned the bloody clashes in Borj Abi Haidar following its weekly meeting at Qoreitem under former PM Fouad Siniora.and asked: What are Hezbollah weapons doing in Beirut?

“What happened in Borj Abi Haidar two days ago is unacceptable and cannot be accepted under any pretext or justification or explanation,” the bloc said in a statement.

Lebanese Forces bloc MP Strida Geagea called security officials on Sunday after cars drove through the Baazekta area of Bcharre and “fired approximately 250 shots in the air” to frighten residents, according to a statement issued by Geagea’s office.

Cars carrying Marada Movement flags had driven through Bcharre 45 minutes prior to the gunfire incident, the statement said, adding that Geagea had talked to various officials to calm local residents and ensure the situation did not escalate.

In a statement issued Sunday, El Marada Political Bureau Member Youssef Saadeh expressed “surprise and disapproval” regarding Geagea’s statement calling it “distortion of facts”.

Marada is headed by MP Suleiman Franjieh a staunch ally of Syria and Hezbollah.

This development comes after the clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Sunday that France intends to keep its promise of arming the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Citing official French sources, the newspapers said Paris considers arming the military, not from an Israeli or U.S. perspective, but from the need for maintaining civil peace and protecting Lebanese institutions as well as Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.

“Lebanon needs a strong army and France promised to help provide weapons and intends to fulfill its promise … its commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and stability,” one French source said.

Ashara al-Awsat also quoted well-informed French sources as saying that Paris has shown disapproval of the way Lebanese authorities deal with this key issue amidst lack of effective communication between the political and military leaders where top political leaders seem to be unfamiliar with the details.

French political sources, meanwhile, said Congress and the U.S. Senate’s demands that France back down on decision to supply Lebanon with 100 “hot” missiles (mounted on Gazelle helicopter gunships) comes in the context of Washington’s reaction following the Adeisseh border clash between Lebanese and Israel troops.

The sources believed that “the quantity of these missiles cannot change anything in the balance of power, which blatantly tips toward Israel.”

This comes after A U.S. lawmaker on Friday warned France not to sell anti-tank missiles to Lebanon, saying they could end up being used against Israel amid pro-Iranian influence in the Lebanese government.

U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the warning after Asharq Al-Awsat reported the planned sale.

On August 10, U.S. US Congressman Howard Berman, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced he had placed on hold 100 million dollars in aid to Lebanon’s military.

Like Berman Ros-Lehtinen is of Jewish decent and a well known anti-Palestinian and a strong supporter of Israel .

Israeli and Jewish lobbies

Americans for Peace Now (APN) reported earlier this month that Israeli and Jewish lobbies were putting pressure on the Congress to punish Lebanon…

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC ) had reportedly circulated a memo arguing that the Lebanese Army is cooperating with Hezbollah, and stating that unless this stops, “Washington must reevaluate its relationship with the Beirut government and the Lebanese Armed Forces–the recipient of significant American military aid.”

Similarly, The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) had reportedly circulated a memo implicitly bashing the Obama Administration for providing military aid to Lebanon (something that the Bush Administration did as well). The memo also appeared to explicitly call for Israel to launch a new war in Lebanon and takes a shot at the Obama Administration in advance for being insufficiently supportive of such an action.

The US administration under president Barack Obama is aware of the danger of allowing the Zionists to dictate the US policies in Lebanon.

US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley defended earlier this month the U.S. military assistance to Lebanon earlier this month.

“We have an extensive military cooperation program with Lebanon because it’s in our interest to have that program,” he said. “It allows the government of Lebanon to expand its sovereignty. We believe that is in the interest of both of our countries and regional stability as a whole.”

Crowley said he was not aware of plans to reevaluate U.S. military cooperation with Lebanon.

Photo: Gazelle helicopter. Each can carry 4 HOT missiles

March 14 MP Nohad al-Mashnouq told LBCI television on Sunday that Beirut residents should take to the streets to express their rejection of Tuesday’s Borj Abi Haidar clashes and should call for confiscating the arms that “occupy Beirut.”

His comments come after the clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

“Talks about conspiracies are unacceptable,” Mashnouq said, adding that arms used by parties in Beirut insulted the people of all sects.

Resistance arms are something else and they should continue to be used against Israel, the MP also said, criticizing the Defense Ministry’s Tuesday decision to suspend permits to carry firearms in Lebanon since the weapons used in the clashes were most likely not licensed.

The cabinet assigned the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to protect citizens and the Lebanese command must take responsibility, Mashnouq said, adding that the LAF and the security forces did not fulfill their duties.

The MP rejected Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s proposal to form neighborhood security watch committees,saying that such talks remind him of the 1975 civil war.

Lebanon Speaker Nabih Berri was reportedly upset on Sunday over the bloody street clashes earlier this week between the two former allies — Hezbollah and Al-Ahbash.

An-Nahar newspaper quoted Berri visitors as saying that the Speaker has received information that several organizations not connected with Al Ahbash had mobilized and deployed forces in more than one district of Beirut during Tuesday’s clashes in Borj Abi Haidar.

Berri was quoted as saying that after less than an hour of the battles Sunnis sided with Sunnis and Shiites sides with Shiites “a scene I will always reject and fight.”

“This is what we have learned from Moussa Sadr’s school,” Berri insisted.

His comments come after the clash that took place last Tuesday night in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz, his body guard and an Al-Ahbash member who is the son of a Beirut Mukhtar.

Berri who heads the Amal Movement is closely associated with Hezbollah.

There were unconfirmed reports that Amal fighters joined Hezbollah in the battle against Al-Ahbash.

Machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the fighting that rocked the capital

Free Patriotic Movement MP Nabil Nicolas told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television on Sunday that Israeli threats to destroy Lebanon show that Tel Aviv is behind the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

His comment comes as a reference to recurring Israeli warnings to Hezbollah and Lebanon and after Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said last July that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will indict some of his party members and warned that the tribunal is an “Israeli project” aimed at inciting a domestic strife.

STL was formed by the UN to try the killers of Lebanon’s former PM Hariri and related assassinations of anti-Syrian leaders

FPM , which is headed by MP Michel Aoun is closely associated with Hezbollah.

It is in Israel’s interests to break up Lebanon, Nicolas said, adding that the Jewish State wants to harm Beirut in ways other than assassinations as well.

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Sunday said a demand for a weapons-free Beirut is not a push-button issue, stressing that the Lebanese army is a red line.

“The government must take measures. The citizens want answers and ask ‘where is State authority?’ It cannot stand by and watch what happened,” Baroud said in reference to Tuesday’s bloody street battles in Borj Abi Haidar.

“The government has formed a ministerial committee to deal with the issue of weapons spread among the people,” Baroud told the Voice of Lebanon radio station.

He said, however, that this Committee “cannot do miracles,” stressing at the same time that the government will not tolerate the continued spread of weapons under any pretext “because it threatens stability in Lebanon.”

Baroud emphasized that Resistance arms were not subject to debate “because there is an agreement to deal with these weapons at the dialogue table.”

Nevertheless, he warned that the Lebanese army is a “red line.”

“The army is the major force for mainlining civil peace and has proven ability to handle matters wisely, calmly and decisively,” Baroud stressed.

His comments come after the clash that took place last Tuesday in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Voice of Free Lebanon reported on armed clashes among members of the Popular Front for the liberation of Palestine- General Command in Qossaya in the Bekaa, near the Lebanese Syrian borders

PFLP-GC is headed by Ahmad Jibril a former captain in the Syrian army . Jibril has refused to hand over his arms to the Lebanese army.

In an interview with al-Jazeera TV last December , Jibril said his group will not surrender its weapons to the Lebanese army

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir on Sunday said he is concerned about the bloody street battles which broke out earlier this week between Hezbollah and Al Ahbash members.

“These events are worrying,” he said during his sermon.

He also referred to citizens who are complaining of being accused of issues they have nothing to do with.

Sfeir expressed hope that the justice would prevail in Lebanon.

His remarks come after the clash that took place last Tuesday in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

The clash was the worst since May 2008, when Hezbollah gunmen swept through Sunni neighborhoods of Beirut after a government crack down on the group’s telecommunications network.

Fadi El Khatib , known to his countrymen as “The Tiger, scored 31 points and Rony Fahed added 17 as Lebanon beat Canada 81-71 Saturday in the opening round of the basketball world championshipsin in Izmir, Turkey on Saturday Aug. 28, 2010.

In the third quarter, the 6-foot-6 El Khatib scored 16 points, making all five field goal attempts and three free throw attempts.

“It was a very tough very tough game,” Fahed said. “Both teams were playing very physical.”

Matt Freije(notes) nailed a 3-pointer to put Lebanon up 66-64 with about 5 minutes left, and Canada never led again.

“For our team to be successful, we cannot be out-hustled in a game,” Canada coach Leo Rautins said.

Joel Anthony(notes) of the Miami Heat scored 10 of 17 points for Canada in the first half. Denham Brown added 13 points and 6 assists.

Lebanon, which is making its third consecutive worlds appearance, shot 21 more free throw attempts than Canada.

Canada hadn’t qualified for a major tournament since finishing 13th at the 2002 worlds in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lebanon’s next Group D opponent is France. Canada plays Lithuania, which beat New Zealand in its opener. AP

Lebanon team pose for a photograph before their game against Canada at FIBA Basketball World Championship in Izmir August 28, 2010.

Lebanon's Fadi El Khatib (L) and Matt Freije (R) defend Canada's Denham Brown during their FIBA Basketball World Championship game in Izmir August 28, 2010.

One person was killed and 14 people, including 13 children, were injured when two vehicles collided in Sahel Anjar in eastern Lebanon on Saturday, according to The National News Agency (NNA)

NNA said that a Mercedes driven by Abdullah Ali al-Ali crashed into a GMC four-wheeler with Jordanian name plate

Al-Ali had 13 children aged between 8 and 12 in his vehicle. Another man identified as Mohammed Mahdi al-Ali was also in the Mercedes.

A Jordanian and a Lebanese, whose identities were not known, were in the the GMC, NNA reported

Mohammed Mahdi al-Ali was killed, all the children were injured and the Lebanese in the GMC also sustained wounds, it added.

The police is investigating the cause of the accident and the wounded were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment . NNA did not identify whether the Mercedes vehicle was a van or something else

Lebanon President Michel Suleiman said Saturday that the unity of the Mountains is the foundation of Lebanon’s unity stressing that coexistence should be followed by implementation of the Taef accord and administrative decentralization.

Suleiman’s remark came as he sponsored historic reconciliation between the Druze residents of the town of Breeh and displaced Christians that returned to their homes in the presence of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt and MP Talal Arslan at Beiteddine palace.

Breeh, located in a valley near Barouk in the Shouf region was one of the very few villages in the Shouf where Christians and Druze had not yet reconciled since the civil war ended.

Minister of the Displaced Akram Chehayeb , who oversaw the signature of the reconciliation protocol, thanked the government, the president, Jumblatt, and other leaders for facilitating the reconciliation.

Suleiman called on the Christian and Druze delegations to become well acquainted, since their grandfathers had built Lebanon together.

Suleiman said the circumstances that led to fighting and displacement in the Mountains are the same that led to the Borj Abi Haidar incidents earlier in the week. stressing that there have always been some seeking to undermine Lebanon’s unity, adding that all Lebanese ought to think hard about the importance of coexistence to their children ’s futures.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt also spoke during the event, calling on those present to forget the past and work to strengthen unity and coexistence for the sake of the future.

“We want to live together,” Jumblatt said. “If we separate, the future will neither be yours nor ours … forget about the past.”

Earlier, Jumblatt refused discussion of any army shortcoming regarding the Borj Abi Haidar clashes and called for the establishment of neighborhood security committees.

He made his statement after meeting Suleiman at the head of a delegation of Mount Lebanon lawmakers that included MPs Talal Arslan and Dori Chamoun.

President Michel Suleiman surrounded by MP Dori Chamoun ( First right) MP Talal Arslan ( 2nd right ) and MP Walid Jumblatt ( L) Photo: Dalati & Nohra

Arslan stressed the “coexistence and the unity of the Mountains residents,” saying the unity enjoyed among them should be an example to Lebanon and the Lebanese.

President Michel Suleiman surrounded by MP Dori Chamoun with the delegation that was headed by MP Walid Jumblatt - Photo: Dalati & Nohra

Top Photo :   The historic signing of the reconciliation   between the Druze residents of the town of Breeh and displaced Christians that returned to their homes. courtesy of  Dalati & Nohra

Former minister Wiam Wahhab said Friday during a speech that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will collapse if the Lebanese government withdraws its funding, according to National News Agency (NNA).

Wahab added that the government must defuse impending strife for the sake of Lebanon’s people.

his comment comes after Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said last July that the STL will indict some of his party members and warned that the tribunal is an “Israeli project” aimed at inciting a domestic strife.

“There are still attempts to exploit the reprehensible assassination [of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005],” Wahab said.

STL was formed by the UN to try the killers of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri and related assassinations of anti-Syrian leaders

Wahab a staunch ally of Syria and Hezbollah has been actively campaigning against the STL.

In an interview with NBN TV last Sunday he said that the March 8 coalition will exert pressure the government does not take a stance concerning (STL) and its pending indictment. He also called for withdrawing all STL’s Lebanese judges.

Ali Hussein a political analyst told Ya Libnan last Sunday: “Both Hezbollah and Syria use Wahab on regular basis to do their dirty work….whatever he has been saying ever since 2004 has always been reflecting the thinking of the Syrian and Hezbollah leadership.”

According to observers the only thing that STL should not worry about is funding , since Hariri had many friends and all the friendly countries are willing to chip in to know who killed him.

Lebanese authorities have arrested four suspects in this week’s deadly Beirut street battle between the Iranian backed Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group and a pro-Syrian small Sunni group, the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash.

In this photo released by Lebanon's official government photographer Dalati Nohra, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, center, inspects damage to a mosque following Tuesday night's clashes in Beirut's neighborhood of Basta, Lebanon, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010.

The suspects are accused of attacking and setting fire to a Sunni mosque during Tuesday’s hours-long clash, which killed three people, including two Hezbollah members. It was the worst fighting in Beirut since 2008.

A senior security official says the arrests were made in army raids Friday night in the Borj Abu Haidar residential neighborhood, where the fighting took place.

The official spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Witnesses said the fighting was touched off by a traffic dispute that escalated when local gunmen gathered reinforcements.

4 is not enough
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea wondered on Saturday why only four suspects were arrested in the Borj Abi Haidar clashes when “hundreds of known armed individuals took to the streets.

He questioned the purpose of the armed group of that size’s presence in the heart of Beirut, adding: “We didn’t hear of the confiscation of any weapon even though hundreds of individuals were on the scene.”

“It could have been an individual incident, but how do we explain , how in less than an hour, organized armed groups deployed on the streets in full combat mode,” Geagea added.

AP, Ya Libnan

Amal Movement MP Qassem Hashem called for finding out who was the third party that was involved in Tuesday’s Borj Abi Haidar clashes, according to New TV .

Amal Movement issued a statement last Tuesday saying it was not involved, even as some of its men fought on Hezbollah’s side, according to local reports

This comes after the clash that took place last Tuesday in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

The clash was the worst since May 2008, when Hezbollah gunmen swept through Sunni neighborhoods of Beirut after a government crack down on the group’s telecommunications network.

A third party interfered in the fighting which escalated the situation, Ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Saturday.

Regarding the Beirut MPs’ call for a “weapons-free Beirut”, Hashem said that this is not new and would not be possible amid Israeli threats.

At least three people were killed and dozens injured by an earthquake that jolted northern Iran, state radio reported today.

The quake, which the seismological centre said had a magnitude of 5.9, struck Semnan province last night and was followed by 15 aftershocks. The US Geological Survey said it measured 5.7.

“Two children and a woman were killed in the quake and 40 others were injured,” state radio quoted Morteza Aliabadi, a senior local official, as saying. “Over 15 villages in the province were also damaged.”

Authorities said the quake had had no effect on fault lines beneath the capital Tehran, where the quake was also felt.

The US Geological Survey said the quake’s epicentre was about 150km south of the city of Gorgan, northeast of Tehran, at a depth of 10km.

Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, is criss-crossed by fault lines and often experiences earthquakes.

In 2003, an earthquake flattened the desert city of Bam and killed 31,000 people. malaysian insider

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams was quoted by As-Safir newspaper as saying that improved Lebanese-Syrian relations will play a part in border demarcation between the two countries.

Commenting on arming the Lebanese army he said :

“It is very important to arm the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the cabinet must take a serious decision on the matter,” adding that the LAF has shown its command abilities in southern Lebanon.

Williams added : “LAF plays a central role in the South, which was possible through the implementation of resolution 1701.”

“Coordination between UNIFIL and the army is necessary, as without it, these troops would not be able to work in southern Lebanon”, Williams also said

Regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Williams said he understands the concerns over its effect on the country, adding that he is confident the Lebanese institutions would be able to withstand any difficulties caused by STL

The UN supports Syria and Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Lebanon’s stability, Williams also said. “[Good relations] between Syria and Saudi Arabia are not only important for Lebanon, but for the [entire] Middle East,” he added.

Williams said the UN Security Council will take the final decision regarding extending UNIFIL’s term in Lebanon on August 30, adding that he does not think substantial changes will be made in its mandate.

Hezbollah MP Walid Sukarieh questioned Saturday the demand that Beirut be stripped of weapons.

He justified the presence of Hezbollah arms in the city by saying: “War with Israel is not restricted to the South, but it encompasses the whole of Lebanon, so what would stop Israel from making a landing in Beirut or the Bekaa or any other region?”

in an interview with the daily Asharq al-Awsat, he asked: “Is it acceptable that some areas be like Monaco aimed at tourism, while others are aimed at waging war? Do they want us to raise the white flag and surrender in the capital?”

The MP said that arms should be controlled and organized, not taken away.

The Lebanese were outraged about the clash that took place last Tuesday in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

The clash was the worst since May 2008, when Hezbollah gunmen swept through Sunni neighborhoods of Beirut after a government crack down on the group’s telecommunications network.

March 14 MP Jamal al-Jarrah told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) on Friday that all armed parties must voluntarily hand over their weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

“The arms should target the Israeli enemy and not the Lebanese people,” Jarrah said, calling to make Beirut an arms and militia free city.

A U.S. lawmaker on Friday warned France not to sell anti-tank missiles to Lebanon, saying they could end up being used against Israel amid pro-Iranian influence in the Lebanese government.

U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the warning after the Arabic-language newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported the planned sale.

“The influence of Hezbollah militants and their Iranian and Syrian backers in the Lebanese government is rising,” Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement.

“Therefore, to sell weapons to Lebanon at this time would be very irresponsible, and could jeopardize security and stability in the region,” she said.

“France should do the responsible thing and cancel this sale unless and until the Lebanese government takes the steps necessary to root out extremists from its own ranks and disarm Hizbullah,” she said.

Asharq Al-Awsat, quoting a top French official, said French Defense Minister Herve Morin had sent a letter to his Lebanese counterpart Elias Murr in May informing him that Paris was “ready” to deliver 100 HOT missiles to Beirut.

The paper said Lebanon wants to arm its French-designed Gazelle army helicopters with the HOT (High Subsonic Optical Remote-Guided Fired from Tube) missile, a long-range, anti-tank missile system designed by Euromissile.

The French official quoted by the newspaper on its website acknowledged that Israel “protested” the French decision to provide Lebanon with arms and that Washington raised “question marks” over the missile deal.

However, he also “categorically denied” that Paris had “given in to pressure” and that this was why the sale had not been completed.

The French official instead said “confusion” within the Lebanese government was responsible for the deal’s delay or failure.

On August 10, U.S. US Congressman Howard Berman, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced he had placed on hold 100 million dollars in aid to Lebanon’s military.

Berman said he could not be sure the Lebanese armed forces were not working with Hezbollah, which Washington lists as a “terrorist” organization and whose militiamen fought a devastating month-long war against Israel in 2006.

Like Berman Ros-Lehtinen is of Jewish decent. Ros-Lehtinen’s grandparents were Sephardic Jews from Turkey who had been active in Cuba’s Jewish community . She is a Cuban born American politician and former teacher. Since 1989, she has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 18th congressional district.

Anti Palestinian

Ros-Lehtinen is a well known anti-Palestinian and a strong supporter of Israel .

In a statement issued last week , Ros-Lehtinen suggested it was well overdue that the State Department expel the Palestinian mission from the U.S., saying the “U.S. rewards [the] corrupt, autocratic PLO with more symbols of legitimacy, treating it like a sovereign state.”

Ros-Lehtinen further said, “Instead of giving more undeserved gifts to the PLO, it’s time for us to kick the PLO out of the U.S. once and for all, and move our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, where it belongs.”

Ros-Lehtinen was the author of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which conditioned U.S. assistance to the Palestinian leadership upon compliance that it renounce and combat violent extremism, abide by its existing agreements, and recognize Israel’s right to exist.

With US Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Ros-Lehtinen has also sponsored the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act (H.R. 3412), which would recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel; express that all Israeli citizens should have the right to reside anywhere in Jerusalem; and require the U.S. Embassy in Israel to be relocated to Jerusalem by January 1, 2012.

As ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ros-Lehtinen stands to become the Chair of the committee, if the Republicans pick up enough seats in the November elections and is expected to pass the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, if she becomes the chair.

The US administration under president Barack Obama is aware of the danger of allowing the Zionists to dictate the US policies in Lebanon.

US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley defended the U.S. military assistance to Lebanon earlier this month.

“We have an extensive military cooperation program with Lebanon because it’s in our interest to have that program,” he said. “It allows the government of Lebanon to expand its sovereignty. We believe that is in the interest of both of our countries and regional stability as a whole.”

Crowley said he was not aware of plans to reevaluate U.S. military cooperation with Lebanon.

Iran is ready

AFP, truth-out

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Abadi said Iran is ready to provide Lebanon with weapons, an issue that he discussed with President Michel Suleiman and Defense Minister Elias Murr.

Abadi told the An Nahar newspaper Saturday: “We are prepared to answer President Suleiman’s call to arm the Lebanese army, and the meeting with minister Murr on this matter was excellent.”

Asked if the army may be equipped with advanced rocket systems, he said: “I am a diplomat and do not interfere in military issues but the Iranian defense minister was clear on this matter. Everything is open before Lebanon in supplying it with arms of all kinds.”

Abadi stated that Iranian President Mahmoud Admadinejad will visit Lebanon in October, noting: “The trip should have happened earlier, especially after President Suleiman’s visit to Tehran.”

Electricity and oil
Addressing Lebanon’s electricity file, the ambassador said that there have been no advances in Lebanon in this field in 15 years, announcing that Iran is ready to solve this problem if requested by Lebanese officials.

“We are ready to solve the electricity problem in Lebanon. We can implement the plan in six months and with the best international prices. We have informed Energy Minister Jebran Bassil of this,” he added.

The problem, he noted, lies in Cabinet as it needs to take a serious political decision on this matter.

Abadi also revealed that Iran is ready to help Lebanon in drilling for petroleum.

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called on the government during his last speech to seek arms from Iran . His speech was described as the Iranization of Lebanon.

Berman
This comes after the chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Howard Berman ( pictured right) , said earlier in the month that he suspended $100 million in assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces .

The Lebanese were very critical of Berman’s move.

“The U.S. government is quite familiar with the reliability and importance of the Lebanese armed forces as a central institution in our country’s quest for peace and security and for asserting state authority throughout the country,” Mohamed Chatah, an adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, told The Associated Press. “The last thing that the U.S. or any other friend of Lebanon should do is to weaken the effort to build up our national army.”

On the other hand State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley defended the U.S. assistance .

“We have an extensive military cooperation program with Lebanon because it’s in our interest to have that program,” he said. “It allows the government of Lebanon to expand its sovereignty. We believe that is in the interest of both of our countries and regional stability as a whole.”

Crowley said he was not aware of plans to reevaluate U.S. military cooperation with Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Defense Minister Elias al-Murr was also outraged by Berman’s move and said earlier in the month ” any party that wished to help the military had to do so without any conditions.”

Murr added: “This person wants to make military aid conditional on not protecting (Lebanon’s) land, people and borders against Israeli aggression. Let them keep their money or give it to Israel. We will confront (Israel) with the capabilities we own.”

Iranian takeover
According to analysts the action taken by the US lawmaker could result in the complete takeover of Lebanon by Iran. The analysts think that Iran has anxiously been awaiting this golden opportunity to bypass Syria in its dealing with Hezbollah.

The analysts are saying that up until now all the weapons have been coming via Syria but once Iran starts arming the Lebanese army the shipments will be coming directly to Lebanon.

“I’m ready to provide weapons to the army, even from underground,” Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of the Iranian backed Hezbollah said last week

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stressed on Friday during his remarks about the special tribunal for Lebanon the importance of international justice .

He said: “The battle for international justice is fraught with dangers as is the case in Lebanon, Sudan, and the Congo, but searching for the truth is necessary in order to achieve permanent peace.”

Spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, Bernard Valero told the daily Al-Mustaqbal newspaper Saturday that France wants the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to uncover the complete truth in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“France completely supports the STL and its autonomy … We have never changed our position on this matter,” he added.

Earlier in the month , Hezbollah politburo member Mahmoud Qomati said that Hezbollah demands the elimination of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He also said: “The tribunal has been politicized from the start and was initially formed to fulfill interests, and not discover the truth, but bury it.”

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said last month that the tribunal would indict Hezbollah members for the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

STL was formed by the UN to try the killers of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri and related crimes

Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during an Iftar in Qoreitem on Friday: “It is unacceptable for the state to watch weapons proliferate throughout Lebanon, ” according to a statement from his office.

He said the cabinet will act decisively in dealing with the issue.

Last Wednesday the cabinet decided to form a commission to deal with arms proliferation, following the clashes in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar on Tuesday night between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

No one should be allowed to kill citizens then seek protection from a particular group anywhere in Lebanon, Hariri said, adding that “I am speaking about all parties.”

Hariri also said that “everything happening with us now is the result of the present political discourse,” and reiterated the need to protect coexistence by solving problems through dialogue.

“Dialogue is the only way to reach safety as Lebanon has never benefited from internal fighting, but it and the Lebanese have always been the greatest losers,” he added.

Earlier on Friday the prime minister performed the Friday prayer at the al-Amin Mosque with Lebanon’s former PM Fouad Siniora.

Three people were wounded in a fire caused by fireworks at an indoor wedding party in Regency Palace Hotel in Adma north of Beirut.

LBC TV broadcast live footage of the fire which broke out around 10:00 pm at the hotel’s “Caesar Hall.”

While the bride escaped unscathed, the groom was seen with burns to his face and hands.

While Civil Defense teams were trying to extinguish the fire, security forces and Red Cross rescue workers were evacuating the wounded and the guests from the hall.

LBC said the fireworks went off at the wrong time, setting the curtains on fire. Naharnet

President Michel Suleiman who is currently residing at the Beiteddine palace in the Shouf region of Mount Lebanon toured the Shouf region today and specially the Cedar Mountain areas of Barouk and Maaser el-Shouf and met the local residents.

He was accompanied by PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt.

The two leaders visited Maaser el-Shouf and Shouf Cedar nature reserves.

Prior to his tour he discussed arming the military with Defense Minister Elias Murr and Police Chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi during 2 separate meetings.
Al Barouk cedar forest is a nature reserve known mainly for its cedar trees and other plants that enrich the area forming a magnificent ecological paradise.

Barouk National Reserve

Al Barouk cedar forest is a nature reserve known mainly for its cedar trees. It is one of three protected areas in Lebanon to benefit from the United Nations’ Protected Areas Project.

Barouk National reserve is the biggest natural reserve in Lebanon & the middle east. It is decorated by around 2 million majestic cedars trees.

Barouk river which is the source of fresh water for Mt Lebanon and the capital originates in the town of Barouk . Barouk is also the birthplace of Rachid Nakhleh, the famous poet that wrote the Lebanese national Anthem (kulluna lel watan).

Top Photo: President Michel Suleiman met during during his visit to the Cedar mountain in Barouk with the Druze Sheikhs of the area. the Shouf is considered a Druze stronghold.

Speaker Nabih Berri told an Iftar held in BIEL on Friday
“I cannot start without referring to what happened a few days ago. Let’s consider that what happened (in Borj Abi Haidar) was a clash among brothers,”

His comment comes after clashes broke out in the Beirut neighborhood of Borj Abi Haidar on Tuesday night between supporters of the the pro-Syrian Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants , leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Sunni and Shia are both Muslims because they follow God and his Prophet Mohammad, Berri said.

Amal Movement leader Imam Moussa Sadr’s legacy of dialogue is still relevant today, he added, calling on Lebanon to remember Sadr’s 1978 disappearance and remind the world that the Libyan regime is still hiding its crime.

The clash was described by some analysts as a proxy war between Iran and Syria over the control of Lebanon. Hezbollah according to analysts is trying to out-maneuver Syria in Lebanon…. Hezbollah has reportedly become the principle bulwark resisting a Syrian comeback, because the party wants to preserve Lebanon for Iran.

Turning to the issue of providing arms for the Lebanese army, Berri rejected any conditions for arming the military.

“The army, the people and the resistance will be ready for any Israeli attack in the future,” Berri warned.

Addressing the Jewish state, Berri cautioned: “Let it be clear that any future war will be deep into Israel.”