There is a lot of speculation in the media about a possible future role for Suleiman in reconciling Syria with Saudi Arabia . . . An Nahar reported that he will be happy to play the role if he is asked by either party.
In other developments:
- General Michel Aoun is traveling to Tehran Iran today.
- The reconciliation meeting between Samir Geagea , leader of the Lebanese Forces and Suleiman Franjiyeh leader of the Marada may take place after all. The Marada leader is expected to announce today the details of the meeting in a press conference . Geagea yesterday dropped his objection to the participation of Aoun in the reconciliation meeting when he said: If Franjiyeh wants gen. Aoun to participate in our meeting for personal, moral and emotional reasons then we have no objections
- The massive deployment of troops by Syria along the northern Lebanese-Syrian borders continues to get international attention , but Syria insists that the aim is to prevent smuggling. Yesterday French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Cairo : We do not know what is behind the Syrian military move on the Lebanese border, but ultimately, they are not threatening anyone
- The reconciliation meeting between Hariri and Nasrallah could take place soon according to former minister Qabbani : In an interview with OTV he said : "We have a real interest in the Nasrallah - Hariri meeting . This is a major national necessity and will take place soon"
Sunday
22:00 Pope Benedict XVI canonized four saints of the Roman Catholic Church: Sister Alphonsa, born in 1910 and the first Indian woman to be elevated to sainthood. The others elevated to sainthood Sunday included Gaetano Errico, born in 1791 in Italy; Mary Bernard, born in 1848 in Switzerland and Narcisa De Jesus Martillo Moran, born in 1832 in Ecuador.
21:51 One officer and a soldier were wounded in a raid on a house belonging to Nasser Juma in Majdal Anjar
21:34 UN's Special coordinator for Lebanon Michel Williams arrives in Beirut to assume his responsibilities.
21:25 The central security council will hold an extra ordinary session following the arrest of the terrorist cell implicated in Tripoli explosions, NNA reported.
21:21 Hezbolllah MP Raad told New TV: It has been agreed in principal to hold a reconciliation meeting between Hariri and Nasrallah. The meeting will occur , but timing remains to be decided. The reconciliation aims at removing tension from the streets, without any change in political views and positions.
The idea of a meeting with PSP has also been approved. Minister Arslan will choose the appropriate timing.
Some reconciliations are easy others are complicated. With the Lebanese Forces it is complicated. is untrue that Hezbollah wants to obstruct reconciliation in the Christian community.
21:07 Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad to NTV: The meeting between al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah would surely be held pending the return of the first from abroad.
20:04 Khoja told LBC : It is natural for Lebanon to have special relationship with Syria based on mutual respect as is the case with all the Arab neighboring countries
19:51 Al-Mustaqbal news network: The Tripoli terrorist cell is connected to Fatah al-Islam group.
19:28 The army with the help of internal security arrested members of a terrorist cell involved in the recent explosions in Tripoli. Investigation continuing to find the rest of the members of this terrorist cell
19:04 Saudi king is welcoming president Suleiman at the guest palace
18:30 President Michel Suleiman arrives at Jedda airport
17:57 The family of the slain Aridi criticizes the investigation of his murder
17:45 Voice of Lebanon: A Lebanese citizen in Majdal Anjar hurled four hand grenades on Lebanese troops while searching his house injuring two of them.
16:19: Minister Arslan said the meeting between Jumblatt and the Hezbollah delegation may be postponed till after he returns from his trip to Indonesia. He told his supporters in Khaldeh that he intends to stay with his Hezbollah -led allies in the opposition as far as the parliamentary elections are concerned
16:15 Ahdab : Are Aoun's attacks against Saudi Arabia intended to abandon the Taif accord and to put Lebanon under Iranian control. Ahdab is also surprised that Aoun continues with his campaign of hostilities and hate attacks against north Lebanon , the prime minister and the friends of Lebanon
15:59 MP Adwan: "The countdown for the Geagea - Franjiyeh reconciliation meeting has started.... The meeting will take place at the Baabda palace ( after the president returns from saudi and aoun returns from Iran) under the sponsorship of president Suleiman and will be attended by Geagea , franjiyeh and Aoun.... This should turn the page on the painful past between Christians and open a new page."
15:00 The Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel officially nominated Samer George Saadeh as the party's candidate in the Batroun Province for the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Gemayel called denounced criticism by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun of Saudi Arabia "that has given Lebanon a lot."
14:21 MP Alam Eddine criticized Aoun's attacks against Saudi Arabia and called his statements " illogical "
14: 00 U.S. Approves Additional $825,000 for the de-mining programs in Lebanon. This brings the total U.S. contribution for nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, de-mining activities in Lebanon to approximately $4.7 million in 2008 and more than $16.0 million since 2006 according to the US embassy. In addition USAID has contributed $6 million to the landmine and war survivors through the Azour Development Center Cooperative and the Landmine Victims Center in the Jezzine District
13:58 President Michel Suleiman departed Beirut airport to Saudi Arabia on a two-day official visit in response to an official invitation from King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz , accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra Gen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawzi Salloukh, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ghazi Aridi, Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, Bahia Hariri, Minister of State Nassib Lahoud.
13:55 Wiam Wahhab (Shaaban) : If the March 14 group abandons the Saudi project of domination of Lebanon then the reconciliation will reach somewhere
13:48 Fares Souaid Sec. General of March 14 alliance : It is natural for Gen. Aoun to visit Iran after having visited Saddam Hussein in 1988 and probably the Taliban in 20028
13:18 the residents of Qammameen appealed to the ministry of public works to open the roads that lead to their town that lies between Akkar and Thunniyeh. Recent floods closed the raod
13:15 Syrian Premier Mohammed Naji Otari said Premier Fouad Saniora of Lebanon does not need an invitation to visit Damascus. “We have already sent 3 invitations to him, one of which was relayed by Speaker Nabih Berri,” he said.
13:13 MP Harb welcomed the acceptance by Geagea of the attendance of Aoun the reconciliation meeting with Franjiyeh
12:16 Emad jabber: I am for the continuing of the reconciliation process because it means stability for Lebanon
12:15 Wajih al Baarainy : the deployment of Syrian forces along the borders is a normal and internal matter
12:14 former president Amin Gemayel chairs an extraordinary meeting of the Phalange Party, Batroun branch.
11:50 Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh received a call from his Jordanian counterpart thanking Lebanon for efforts exerted to find Jordanian mother and three daughters who went missing in Beirut 10 days ago.
11:50 Hezbollah spokesman Hussein Rahal told Free Lebanon radio that Aoun’s visit to Tehran was an “ordinary” visit. He added “Tehran is not Tel Aviv, and we encourage any Christian-Islamic rapprochement
11:44 Aoun told reporters at Beirut Airport his visit to Iran aims at establishing friendship. Iran is the founder, trainer, financier , political backer and arms supplier of Aoun's ally Hezbollah .
11:43 Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun flew to Tehran on an official visit.
11:10 MP Jawad Boulos told Free Lebanon radio: Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun’s visit to Tehran “does not fall within the context of state-building ...Aoun’s decisions are connected with those of Hezbollah." Boulos said on the other hand Saudi Arabia which is helping Lebanon build a strong state has no aspirations in Lebanon , which is why the kingdom should be considered completely different from Syria and Iran as far as Lebanon is concerned
08:27 Lebanese Security forces found the missing Jordanian lady Hajer Abou Salim and her three daughters in Sabra district of Beirut. She was staying with her Lebanese friends . She ran away from her husband due to family quarrel.
08:03 Informed sources: The discussions between president Suleiman and Saudi king Abdullah will cover the the bilateral relations and the Lebanese and Arab situation
08:01 source : Suleiman's visit to Saudi Arabia is considered very important and historic
07:53 Kouchner : Syria informed France that its military forces along the Lebanese borders does not target Lebanon
07:45 Palestinian official: We have decided to reinforce the security measures in Beddawi camp in response to rumors about the presence of outside illegal elements
07:24 Geagea: If Franjiyeh wants gen. Aoun to participate in our meeting for personal, moral and emotional reasons then we have no objections
07:20 The majority considered that the positions taken by Aoun are targeting the visit of Suleiman to Saudi Arabia
07:03 No new information on contacts between the Lebanese and Syrian Presidents
07:02 Suleiman discussed the Arab affairs and the possibility of developing relations between Lebanon and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and thanked the kingdom for its support
06:51 The meeting of the Lebanese Syrian committee was postponed until October 25
Saturday
21:21 Now Lebanon: Marada Movement leader Sleiman Franjieh is to announce that he agreed to meet Lebanese Forces Executive Council leader Samir Geagea
after Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun returns from Iran.
20:14 Qabbani told OTV: we have a real interest in the Nasrallah - Hariri meeting . This is a major national necessity and will take place soon
20:09 The deployment of Palestinian security force in the Ain el Helweh Palestinian refugee camp , which was scheduled today was postponed due to the lack of logistical preparations
19:32 PM Siniora discussed with minister Salam ministerial issues and general conditions in the country
19:15 Chehayyeb : We are continuing with the project of reconciliation and there are many steps that should be taken but there is no specific program
19:07 Berri told NBN: The current confusion is part of the electoral game where each party believes that raising certain issue could win them more votes
18:42 Kouchner in Cairo: we do not know what is behind the Syrian military move on the Lebanese border, but ultimately, they are not threatening anyone
Geagea and Moawad addressed to the topic of Christian reconciliation in a telephone conversation
17:00 Aoun said during the 0ct 13, 1990 anniversary of Syrian massacre in Lebanon: We took the first step in creating a civil society and our understanding with Hezbollah removed many of the barriers . We always called for best relations with Syria%
Tags: Breaking News, Iran, Lebanon, source: Lebanon Files, Syria, Ya Libnan
