The allegations were immediately denied by al Mustaqbal which it described as "allegations and lies" and said it "confirms the established relation between Syrian intelligence and Fatah al-Islam."

A Future movement ranking official said the international commission probing the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri would be asked to look into what the Syrian TV has screened.

In other developments

- Finally the deputy prime minister has something to do . Yesterday the cabinet decided to form a committee to study a plan made by the Development and Construction Council. The committee is to be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra.

- Obama's selection of US House Rep. Rahm Israel Emanuel, D-IL, to be his White House chief of staff may have sent the wrong signal to the Arabs. Emanuel is the son of a Jerusalem-born pediatrician who was a member of the Irgun (Etzel or IZL), a militant Zionist group that operated in Palestine between 1931 and 1948, according to Ha'aretz newspaper. In the Israel newspaper Ma'ariv, Emanuel's father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel said, "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab?"

Friday

21:21 The Phalange party declared that its supporters won the elections at the faculties of economy, political science and business administration won the elections at the University of St. Joseph

20:52 Spanish Crown Prince Felipe departed from Beirut after inspecting Spanish contingent at UNIFIL

19:40 Finance Minister Shatah met with Williams and a delegation from the world Bank to discuss a loan for $70 million in light of the progress made in reforms

19:38 Al-Manar TV: Deputy PM Issam Abu Jamra will boycott the cabinet’s meeting on Saturday to protest the fact that the dispute surrounding his position was not mentioned in the meeting’s agenda.

19:25 OTV: the representatives of FPM won the elections of the faculties of engineering, medical and law at the at the University of St. Joseph

18:00 Gen. Aoun is currently eeting interior minister Baroud

17:20 The cabinet will hold a meeting tomorrow

17:00 : MP Antoine Andraos following a meeting by MPs from the Democratic Gathering: We were the first to call for closing the issue of the displaced and the displacement fund prior to the upcoming elections to prevent others from exploiting the issue.

16:00 : MP Fatfat to AFP: Syrian claims affirm Fatah al-Islam’s link to Syrian intelligence, if they have any facts let them present them to an Arab or an international commission.

15:20 Judge Rashid Mezher on Friday issued 8 arrest warrants in absentia in connection with suspects involved in the Tripoli explosion of September, which targeted a military bus carrying at least 20 soldiers, leaving at least five dead and 21 injured.

15:00 : March 14 Forces: Syria’s allegations about Fatah al Islam are an attempt to run away from their responsibility concerning the assassinations.

14:15 US embassy and USAID grants $198,840 to four Lebanese NGOs :Father Afif Osseirane Foundation, Foyer de la Providence, which provides social services to socially and economically disadvantaged young boys, the Mission de Vie homeless shelter, the Youth Association for the Blind, and the Association of Graduates - Institute of Fine Arts at the Lebanese University (LU).

13:25 Geagea suggests submitting Damascus terrorist cell to be investigated by the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) to discover the truth behind all the crimes committed in Lebanon and Syria. In reference to Damascus arrests of Fatah al Islam terrorists

13:05: MP Michel Aoun received Regional -Secretary of Baath Party Fayez Shukur , who said that he considered his visit to Aoun to be a public and not a secret event

13:00: A surprise visit by Spanish Crown Prince Felipe to inspect Spanish force in UNIFIL.

12:32: OTV: Wanted Nader al-Ali and Khaled Jaber are with security committee at Bedawi refugee camp undergoing process of handing over to the Lebanese army.

12:25: OTV: Wanted Palestinian Saeed Rashed handed over to Lebanese army by Palestinian Kifah at Bedawi refugee camp.

12:04 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir meets with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Bkirki.

11:45 : General Ashraf Rifi following his meeting with Patriarch Sfeir: The security situation is perfect.

11:20 Nader al-Ali and Abu Wael al-Jabr of Jawhar terrorist cell arrested in Beddawi refugee camp in connection with clashes that left Palestinian civilian Imad al-Maamari dead.

11:16 Tarek Ziad Maarri, 35, of the Al-Saeqa Palestinian faction, killed in Beddawi camp after clashes

11:15 Soueid says Syrian authorities were trying to mislead the public opinion and give impression that they were concerned about the borders with Lebanon, before Interior and Defense ministers Ziad Baroud and Elias al-Murr visit Damascus.

11:09 Hajj Hassan says terrorist cells are exploited politically to accuse some parties

08:52 VOL : Harb says accusing Future of financing Fatah al-Islam is for political purposes designed to damage the image of March 14 alliance before the parliamentary elections in 2009, because Syria was the ally of March 8 coalition.

8:00 Saudi Ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja denied that Riyadh had invited Israel to a U.N.-sponsored conference on dialogue between the various religions. Former PM salim Hoss made the accusation but later apologized to Saudi Arabia "My regrets for the charges made against the kingdom regarding allegations that it had invited Israel to the conference. He said after Khoja issued the denial

Thursday

23:45 Baroud : the cabinet meeting was excellent and productive

23:40 Bassil : The ministers achieved 2 objectives during their meeting: 1- agreed to authorize Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra to head a cabinet committee 2- The Cabinet decided to form a committee to study a plan made by the Council for Development and Construction

23:15 : Information Minister Tareq Mitri said after cabinet meeting: Cabinet agreed that DPM Issam Abu Jamra will head a committee to survey executed, under-way and future projects. The committee will propose a comprehensive development plan. The Cabinet also decided to form a committee to study a plan made by the Council for Development and Construction. The committee is to be headed by the DPM. President Suleiman informed ministers of his desire to reject the Law of Tax Measures that was approved by parliament.

22:33 Finance Minister Shatah: I am not a candidate for the parliament in the upcoming elections

22:25 Lebanon Files: The confessions by the Fatah al Islam detainees will lead into a hot debate in the Lebanese political arena in the next few days

22:10: Finance Minister Shatah told LBC: The Lebanese cabinet could be preparing for a small conference to remove Lebanon from regional conflicts ;to open a special track for dealing with the Shebaa Farms, Palestinian and Hezbollah arms.

22:00: LBC: The Cabinet agreed to authorize Deputy Prime Minister Issam Abu Jamra to head a cabinet committee.

21:33 : Syrian TV exhibits confessions of arrested elements of Fatah al-Islam: Funding Fatah al-Islam at Nahr al-Bared refugee camp was made by Saudi businessmen prior to holding up banks by the group. Wafaa el-Absi daughter of Shaker al Absi claims that financial transfers were made by the al-Mustaqbal Movement but her father did not trust the Mustaqbal movement.

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