The short list of candidates for the top position in the army is down to two and one is strongly favored. The defense Minister has been trying to meet all the political leaders to reach consensus on one
The president held this position until he was elected as the president of the republic. The other key position that is expected to be filled soon is the chief intelligence officer
The other key issues that are being focused on : Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's visit to Iraq which he described as successful, the controversial position of the deputy PM who feels ignored by the prime minister, the boycott of the Iraq trip by the energy minister Tabourian who should have not missed the opportunity to be in Iraq because of the Lebanese interest in Iraqi oil , dialogue talks, the national debt and the economy of the country
"Today's cabinet meeting will be historic because it will decide on the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria " according to MP Du Freige
Thursday
23:26 Majdalani told Future TV: March 14 alliance wants to strengthen democracy in Lebanon by strengthening the state and the Lebanese institutions to ensure that the constitution is respected by all
22:17 Minister Mitri at the end of the cabinet meeting : The cabinet decided to authorize the foreign minister to study the issue of setting up embassies in Damascus and Beirut
22:02 The cabinet meeting is still going on
21:43 Huge Fire erupted in Qadisha valley and the residents are asking for helicopters because of the difficulties in reaching the fire
20:50 Former PM Hoss: There are no specific authorities assigned for the deputy PM in the constitution, because this position is not mentioned in the constitution
20:50 A man identified as Hassan Iskandar was found dead in a car in the town of Tal Abbas.
19:15 VOL: The Cabinet is likely to discuss 148 items on the agenda.
19:08 Protests bring Tripoli to a standstill by protestors who are angry over power outages. Tires were set ablaze along major thoroughfares. The protestors said that owners of generators were cutting off power because of the high price of fuel, even though prices have dropped in recent weeks.
18:40 A forest fire erupts between the southern villages of Sribeen and Kafra accompanied by the sound of exploding cluster bombs left over from Israel’s 2006 war on Lebanon.
17:48 Cabinet meeting began at 5:30 p.m. chaired by President Michel Suleiman presiding. Defense Minister Murr confirms no appointment of army commander today but the issue will be dealt with next week
17:20 A closed-door meeting is underway between President Michel Suleiman and Premier Fouad Siniora ahead of the cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace.
17:14 Minister of State Mohammed Qabbani expects final decision on appointment of army commander soon
15:43 French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner rescheduled his visit to Lebanon until next Sunday.
14:38 MP Ammar Houry expects the May opposition “coup” to continue from within government. "While Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was working to improve Lebanon’s electricity and energy sectors and restore the world’s confidence in Lebanon, the opposition was working to instill “discord, hatred and discrimination … and violating constitutional institutions, which reveals their plan to continue to implement the May coup in a different way - from within the government,” Houry added.
14:37 Minister Fawzi Salloukh said Israel’s threat to Lebanon went beyond targeting Hezbollah, and aimed instead at “harming the image of Lebanon.” “Who said the government legitimized Hezbollah to carry out any of its work? These are Israeli fantasies that tarnish the image of Lebanon internally and externally,” Salloukh added
13:50 The Higher Judicial Council appointed judge George Rizq Examining Magistrate in the Zahle Crime.
13:40 Lebanese troops seal off Sheik Bilal Shaaban's residence in Tripoli to check a suspicious object found deserted in the neighborhood. It turned out to be a garbage bag.
13:15 Parliament to discuss Qaza-based electoral law, fuel prices during the special session next Tuesday. On the agenda are 31 issues and including raising the minimum wages and exempting diesel fuel prices from VAT.
12:00 Relatives of apprehended Fatah al-Islam suspects stage a sit-in near the Beirut Justice Palace amidst strict security measures.
11:58 Hand grenade targets army regiment in Tripoli. The army arrested a suspect in the area and interrogated him on the hand grenade and a grenade found in the Jabal Mohsen area of the northern port city. A second grenade was thrown near the Nashabi Hospital on Syria Street in, but did not lead to any deaths or injuries.
11:08 Radio Free Lebanon reports the Australian government’s transmission control center seeks to ban Al-Manar, which broadcasts from Indonesia to Australia, on suspicions the channel contains “contents related to terrorism.”
10:32 MP Butrous Harb comments on today’s cabinet session to the Voice of Lebanon: The formation of the current government makes every decision subject to a tug-of-war that could hinder resolutions to be issued by the cabinet, and this is what we warned against.The issue of the deputy prime minister is being handled in a sectarian manner and aims to provoke Christians against Sunni Muslims a year before the elections. The issue should be dealt with rationally and legally, away from the media spotlight.
10:00 Israeli jetfighters flew apparent reconnaissance missions over south Lebanon.
08:48 LBC : Several hand grenades were tossed last night in Tripoli
08:40 Farid el Kahzen told Voice of Lebanon : The authorities issue of the deputy PM has been in discussions for the past 18 years and raising it again is natural because the Taef accord left the Lebanese constitution without a proper definition for the role of the deputy PM
08:30 MP Harb told Voice of Lebanon: The proposed discussion during today's cabinet meeting of the authorities of the deputy PM position is politically and religiously motivated and is meant for the 2009 parliamentary elections
08:00 Ministerial sources told al Sharq al Awsat : During his meeting with Assad , president Suleiman praised PM Siniora as a nationalist Arab leader who has not changed and does not hold any animosity towards Syria
08:03 Abou Faour : We are for keeping the army and its leadership away from any politicizing to protect the institution and its role in the country
07:37 Al Hayat : Jumblatt and Berri agreed on establishing general framework for continuing the dialogue through a combined committee that includes members from both parties . This development is to create an atmosphere of calm to lower the tension in the country
07:25 Al Hayat ministerial sources : Most probably the appointment of the army chief will take take place in today's cabinet meeting but during the next meeting
07:22 Du Freige : The front runner for the position of the army chief was Francoise el Hajj and his assassination was a message to Suleiman . Today's cabinet meeting will be historic because it will decide on the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria
07:16 Al Akhbar : PM Siniora had asked a religious leader in Lebanon to arrange for a meeting with Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq
07:06 Al Akhbar : Abu Mazen ( Palestinian president ) refused the plan of Olmert to naturalize the Palestinians living in Lebanon , since it does not meet the minimum requirements of solving the Palestinian refugees issue
06:29 Minister Shtah told As Safir : The trip to Iraq was to obtain oil at subsidized price levels, expand the economic cooperation , opening the door for the private sector in expanding into the Iraq market
06:22 Shamsuddin told As Safir : Sinior a's visit to Iraq is very important , since it is the first visit to our Iraq by a Lebanese leader since a long
06:09 As Safir sources: Most probably the appointment of the army chief will be postponed and the security appointments will be frozen
06:03 Israel renewed its threats to attack the infrastructure of Lebanon in any future war with Hezbollah "
05:22 Speaker Berri called for a special legislative session for next Tuesday at 10:30 am
Wednesday
23:16 MP Nasser Nasrallah told Future TV: The defense strategy will be the first item on the agenda of the national dialogue talks
23:05 Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea in live interview on Future TV: It is not true that Hezbollah gained open legitimacy in the ministerial statement as some of its MPs claim. PM Fouad Siniora is one of the best PMs in Lebanon’s history at both national and Christian levels
21:45 tens of youngsters blocked roads with tires in protest against power blackouts in Tripoli . All Lebanon is experiencing extended power blackouts due to equipment failures and shortages of fuel
19:47 Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora returns to Lebanon and describes his quick visit to Iraq as “successful”.
19:14 PM Siniora in press conference with PM Nouri Al-Maliki: Iraq will give Lebanon privileged access to oil
18:51 Belgian navy ship F930 Leopold heads to Lebanon to perform military operations, under the command of UNIFIL and in conjunction with Lebanese security forces, aimed at stopping Syrian and Iranian weapons bound for Hezbollah from entering Lebanon by sea.
18:06 Hezbollah-led opposition leaders meet to discuss the appointment of new army commander , head of intelligence and other security appointments.
18:01 Hamas Representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan: “everything is now under control at the Ain el Heleh Palestinian refugee camp"
