and soldiers cannot vote in parliamentary elections.
The Parliament will continue to debate the electoral law bill on Monday at 10:30 am
In other developments :
- The removal of the political banners and posters from the streets of Beirut continues .
- The Maronite League continues to pursue its road map of reconciliation within the Christian community
- The meeting between Hariri and Nasrallah could reportedly take place this evening . Hariri said yesterday " the reconciliations that are taking place in Lebanon are the reconciliations of the brave that want the country united on firm basis "
- In Syria the explosion that rocked the city of Damascus yesterday has reportedly killed 17 and wounded 14. Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul-Majid called the bombing a "terrorist act" but declined to say who was behind the blast. But according to reports by Lebanese sources the bombing was performed by an Iraqi suicide bomber ( who recently entered Syria) with links to al-Qaeda. The target was the security installation that was in close proximity to the bombing. The sources said that this suicide bombing was a warning that al- Qaeda would turn Syria into a “jihad land.”
Sunday
22:00 Internal Security Forces: Sami Zuaiter , an Internal Security Forces capatin was wounded and 2 military vehicles were damaged during the removal of a building that was built in violation of local codes in the al Hursh al Qateel district
21:30 Hassan Ibrahim Karmeesh , a Lebanese citizen was hit during gun fire exchange in a dispute between Nouairi and Shaar families in Jourah district of Sour ( Tyre) in south Lebanon
20:24 Ministr Barould told Future TV: the adoption of the electoral law will pacify the political situation, but may not meet the expectations of the people, because it does not address the proportional representation . Tomorrow some reforms in the electoral law will be adopted
20:10 Future TV: the operation of removing pictures and banners from Beirut streets will be completed tomorrow
11:45 Geagea , leader if the Lebanese Forces told LBC : whoever wins in the parliamentary elections will not govern alone. We are ready for reconciliation with AL MARADA, but we are completely opposed to the isolation of Bkirki or the undermining of its importance in the event the reconciliation is spearheaded by Baabda . We have informed the Maronite League that we are ready for any personal meetings if required
10:51 Former PM Najib Mikati met Saudi King Abdullah at his Safa palace in Mekkah to thank him for his support for Lebanon and for helping in getting out of the crises
10:45 Patriarch Sfeir during the Sunday Mass: The issue of freedom is very important but it is frequently misused. We wish the reconciliation effort all the success
10:16 Mohammad el Sammak told Voice of Lebanon: The decision to remove the banners and posters was not easy and it covers greater Beirut and could be expanded to cover the whole country within days
10:05 security sources have revealed that the reconciliations have resulted in the return for calm to Beirut and making it free of arms will set it as an example that could spread to rest of the country before March 2009
10:03 Al Balad : The Damascus explosion was reflected in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and specially the Ain el Helweh camp where the situation is very tense with the Islamist groups
09:53 MP Elie Aoun told Free Lebanon : “We condemn this ( Damascus explosion) terrorist act, even though we have reservations about the Syrian Regime,” The situation of the Christians is very dangerous the Maronite League will not succeed in it reconciliation Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir does not make any move . We are counting on the role of the President of the Republic in this context
9:00 Lebanese forces: General Aoun will escalate his attacks following his failures in preventing reconciliations between Hezbollah and PSP and Hezbollah and al Mustaqbal
08:31 Presidential sources: The president will soon join the Christian- Christian reconciliation activity but after consulting with Bkirki and other Christian leaders
07:50 Khalil told al Anwar : We wish the electoral law was different , but our pressing need for a new electoral law forced our parliamentary bloc to accept it and approve it
07:20 Minister Baroud told Al Balad: I am waiting for a final answer from the minister of defense about the ability of the army in supporting the internal security in the elections
07:15 parliamentary sources: There is concern that Hariri's enthusiasm for holding elections in one day may be related to side deals in electoral alliances
07:00 Al Balad sources: The Vatican and Bishop Ghani are discussing with Bkirki how to utilize the 1960 electoral law to providing the Christians with better representation on condition this does not lead to any violence or clashes
06:20 Al Balad sources: The Christian reconciliation could materialize before the second session of the dialogue set for November 2, 2008. They will start with bilateral reconciliations
06:00 US official told al Hayat : President Suleiman symbolizes Lebanon's sovereignty and independence . The US policy towards Lebanon will not change .We are warning the Christians against giving Hezbollah and its allies the majority in the new elections
Saturday
23:20 the parliament decides to hold the 2009 elections throughout the country in one day
21:38 Parliament adopts tenth article of electoral law. This article relates to the notice period required between the mayor's resignation and application for parliamentary elections. The parliament has decided to make this period six months mayors and two years for the heads of municipality unions.
16:50 Hariri said the majority’s position was unified with regards to the issue of awarding soldiers the right to vote. “If we speak about equality in Lebanon, everybody must vote and the minimum age of voters must be reduced to 18. But are we amid an abnormal, or exceptional situation? Did we go to Doha because the situation was normal, or because sectarian strife was about to happen?” he asked.
16:21 NOW Lebanon sources: THE Damascus bombing was performed by AN Iraqi suicide bomber with links to al-Qaeda. the bomber recently entered Syria. The target was the security installation that was in close proximity to the bombing. The sources said that this suicide bombing was a warning that al- Qaeda would turn Syria into a “jihad land.”
15:00 Speaker Nabih Berri closes the parliamentary session, which will be resumed at 8:00 pm this evening. The general assembly refuses to give the soldiers the right to vote, despite a draft proposal on this matter being presented by MP Michel Aoun and supported by Hezbollah and Amal.
14:20 PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt calls for “keeping the political germ away from the military institution and keeping the army away from politics,” in response to requests to allow soldiers to vote in the 2009 parliamentary elections
13:21 Voting on electoral law begins, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora confirmed that the cabinet would continue to refuse to allow soldiers to vote, and that the cabinet adopted the entire electoral law despite some reservations.
13:20 Parliamentary session begins the debate of the electoral law. Head of the Administration and Justice Committee MP Robert Ghanem read the text of the electoral law. Then there was an extensive discussion of the suggestion presented by MP Bahij Tabbara to give soldiers the right to vote in the elections. Aoun supported this suggestion while MPs Boutros Harb, Antoine Zahra, and Robert Ghanem opposed the proposal.
11:51 Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat arrive at the parliament to attend electoral law debate
10:41 AP : SSyrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdul-Majid called Saturday morning’s bombing in Damascus a "terrorist act" and said that all the victims were civilians. Speaking on Syrian state TV, Abdul-Majid declined to say who was behind the blast. "We cannot accuse any party. There are ongoing investigations that will lead us to those who carried it out," said Abdul-Majid
10:27 Two demonstrations in Nijmeh Square protest about the electoral law: One group includes members of the National Gathering for Proportional Representation They are opposing the majority system and claiming that it marginalizes the popular will.
The second demonstration is comprised of the National Gathering for Secularism, . They are against the 1960 electoral law which they say will change the state into a sectarian confederation and will lead to civil war.
A delegation from the National Committee to Support Woman Quota handed a letter to Speaker Nabih Berri to demand a quota for female parliamentary representatives to be included in the electoral law
Tags: Breaking News, Bush, Israel, Lebanon, source: Lebanon Files, source: Now Lebanon, Suleiman, Syria, Ya Libnan
