the budget of 2009 and the public debt . The cabinet has also approved the Minister of Interior’s visit to Damascus within two weeks.

In other developments:

- Israel has expressed concern about the increase in smuggling of arms shipments to Hezbollah despite the claim by Syria that it is deploying its troops along the borders to prevent smuggling. Barak told Israel Radio : "I repeat, Syria is turning over lots of weapons to Hezbollah. Israel should take decisions if some of these weapon shipments pose a threat to the fragile balance of powers."

- The arrest by the Lebanese army of the cell leader of Israeli Mossad spy agency highlighted Israeli espionage activity and the threat this southern neighbor poses to Lebanon and the region

- The second session of the dialogue talks scheduled for November 5,2008 is accelerating the reconciliation activity in Lebanon. President Suleiman said after the cabinet meeting today " Reconciliation is not against democracy, the process has moved leaps forward and we have to complete what we started."

- The reconciliation between Geagea and Franjiyeh continues to face obstacles. The Maronite League has not given up . Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said: Christian reconciliation is not impossible for those with the good will and we are not hindering it.

- The US raid against Syria continues to be the focus of the media in Syria.

- Strategic positioning for the upcoming 2009 elections is continuing . Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra told New TV: Christians from the opposition are receiving electoral funds from Hezbollah

Monday

22.50 President Suleiman received an official invitation from the Saudi king to visit the kingdom and plans to head to Saudi Arabia on November 11 and will be accompanied by a ministerial delegation that represents all religions.

22:36 Minister Aoun after returning from Qatar : Dialogue is one of the basic necessities and we encourage its continuation , because it creates a kind of non-political tension in the country and this is what is needed right now
21:58 Hariri met with MPs Ghanem, Murr and the Iranian ambassador and 2 delegations , one from the Economic Forum and the other from the International Socialist Youth

21:21 2 agreement were signed in Ankara between Turkey and Lebanon . One concerning the fight against terrorism and crime and the other for a center for rehabilitation of the disabled in Sidon
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21:09 PM Siniora: Turkey is qualified to play a role in the stability of the region and the creation of appropriate climates for trade and economic relations

20:13 Former President Lahoud returned from Tehran

20:10 Former PM Hoss returned from Cairo

20:08 US ambassador Sisson told LBC: whoever becomes the next president , the US commitment to Lebanon will not change and Syria should not use the explosions in Tripoli as an excuse for any military maneuvering . She added: The Lebanese government did not request any heavy weapons from the US

19:51 former president Gemayel suggested that the dialogue talks should be open to the Lebanese public . The public is entitled to know what we are doing since the country is at the beginning of parliamentary elections and the public should have access to the realities of things

16:40 FPM leader Michel Aoun said after a meeting of his parliamentary bloc : The invitation to visit Iran was received in 2006 "to honor me," after executing the memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah . He added : Israel would be committing suicide if it decides to strike at Hezb0llah. He also said that he hopes the cabinet would define powers of ministers without portfolios

16:22 Five people were stabbed in Tyre ( Sour) by knives as they passed in the main street due to a personal dispute . They were all taken to a nearby hospital for treatment

16:10 The number of passengers that travelled via the Beirut airport rose to 78309 in October

15:17 President Suleiman met with Defense minister elias Murr to discuss the security situation in the country and the status of the military establishment

15:04 Habib Efram discussed with a delegation from the US embassy the continued emigration of Christians

14:53 Jumblatt discussed with Qassar the current danger the international community is facing due to the financial collapse

15:16 MP Ali Hassan Khalil: The current government’s behavior indicates the continuity of a policy of exclusivity and control. The current bilateral reconciliation meetings are helpful in calming down the situation in the country

14:30 The cabinet asked Minister baroud to form a delegation to accompany him to Syria, to include security leaders . The inclusion of ISF chief General Rifi in the delegation has not been finalized yet

14:15: Judge Abdul Rahim Hamoud issued a ruling barring the trial of Andre Bandali, Ibrahim Thuqan Abu Abbass, Adnan Abu Ayash and Muhammad Abdul Jalil Sabra in the United Credit Bank case for lack of evidence.

13:55: Speaker Berri is meeting with Hamas leader Meshaal at his residence in Ain Al-Tineh

13:50 : PM Siniora left on an official visit to Turkey accompanied by Ministers of Interior Ziad Baroud, Finance, Mohammed Shatah and Health Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh.

13:18 AFP: Nigerian police announced that a Lebanese engineer was kidnapped in South Nigeria by militants . Since the beginning of 2006, militant attacks have cut Nigeria's oil output by more than one quarter. Production currently stands at between 1.8 and two million barrels a day against 2.6 million barrels a day two years ago. This has contributed greatly to the price rise of crude oil

13:15 Judge Mezher started investigating the September 29 bombing in Behasas and issued arrest warrants against 10 suspects

13:05 NOW Lebanon: The cabinet’s next session will be held on Thursday at the Baabda palace and might also convene on Saturday at the Grand Serail palace .

13:00 Finance and Budget Commission endorses cabinet’s right to make decisions about promoting officers of ISF, General Security, State Security and Customs.

12:48 : President Suleiman following cabinet session: Reconciliation is not against democracy, the process has moved leaps forward and we have to complete what we started.

12:40 : Minister of Information Mitri after cabinet meeting : The cabinet discussed Egyptian labor in Lebanon, importation of Gas , the budget of 2009 and the public debt . The cabinet has also approved the Minister of Interior’s visit to Damascus within two weeks.

12:18 : MP Antoine Zahra told New TV: Christians from the opposition are receiving electoral funds from Hezbollah. Christian reconciliation is not impossible for those with the good will and we are not hindering it.

12:15 : Electricite du Liban announced a wide campaign for removing violations against the electric grid, saying it will legally prosecute violators.

12:10 : Maronite Patriarch Sfeir received two telephone calls from Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan.

12:05 : VOL: Hariri meets with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Qureitem.

11:08 Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said after meeting with the president : The internal Palestinian situation is good and affirmed that Hamas supported the accomplishment of Lebanese reconciliation. He said that his movement considered all Lebanese parties equal and that Hamas was against the permanent Palestinian settlement in Lebanon. He added: The issue of the weapons inside and outside the Palestinian refugee camps could only be solved through dialogue between Palestinians and Lebanese.

11:00 : Agriculture Minister Elias Skaff arrives in Damascus heading the Lebanese delegation to the Syrian-Lebanese Agricultural Committee's meetings.

10:35: Israeli air force conducts mock raids over the south and the Bekaa.

10:30 Cabinet convenes at Baabda palace headed by President Michel Suleiman and PM Siniora to discuss 2009 budget.

10:00 Siniora arrives at the presidential palace and meets with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal.

8:35 A meeting is underway between Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal and President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace.

7:45 As-Safir daily: Speaker Nabih Berri telephoned PSP leader Walid Jumblatt, MP Michel Aoun and the Hezbollah leadership to adopt a unified stand ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

7:20 Fares Sueid told VOL: March 14 (Forces) calls for commitment to the Doha accord and (demands) that national dialogue focusus on Hezbollah arms issue. He criticized calls by the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition to expand dialogue.

7:18 Cabinet will convene at 9 am Monday and three other sessions are expected to take place this week.

7:00 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir returned from Italy.

Sunday

20:18 Maronite League chief Tarabay expressed optimism about intera Christian reconciliations after Sfeir returned from his trip to Rome

20:30 Harb told New TV: the dialogue is needed to implement the Doha accord , to end the political impasse , to ensure the state spreads it s authority throughout the country and the wave of assassinations ends

20:00 Interior Minister Baroud confirmed receiving an invitation to visit Syria . He may most probably visit the country within weeks

20:09 Syrian-Lebanese singer George Wassouf was arrested in Sweden during the weekend on drug charges, hours before he was due to perform a concert. A lot of people came a long way, even from other countries to attend the concert. Wassouf, 46, was in possession of 30 grams of cocaine when he was arrested, according to an online report

19:33 Antoine Airout, the candidate of the opposition won the elections of the lawyers syndicate in Tripoli against the March 14 candidate who was also supported by former PM Mikati and the Islamist movements. Airout is considered a member of the Marada movement which is headed by Suleiman Franjiyeh.
19:21 PM Siniora contacts his Jordanian counterpart and meets MP Saad Hariri

18:58 Minister Gibran Bassil: Time for a historic settlement between the Christians and Syria to be spearheaded by a national Christian leader . Bassil, the son-in-law of Gen Aoun was referring to Aoun's planned visit to Syria

18:48 Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir after returning to Beirut from an official visit to Italy and the Vatican City : Let us repent to God and lets return to each other through reconciliation
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17:31 the newly elected head of the Tripoli syndicate of lawyers Antoine Airout visits former PM Omar Karami

16:01 Hezbollah's deputy Chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said his party is serious in its call to expand the list of participants in the dialogue talks scheduled for Nov 5 .
16:00 Antoine Airout is the new chief of the syndicate of lawyers in Tripoli. He won the elections with 474 votes against 371 for his opponent Toni Tager.

15:45 Lebanese Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to visit Syria soon to meet with his Syrian counterpart Bassam Abdul Majid

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