This independence day is of special significance, since it is president Suleiman's first since elected last May and it will be the first that March 14 alliance will attend . They boycotted past celebrations , because they considered former president Lahoud as illegitimate. President suleima will be receiving congratulations at the Baabda palace , which is also undergoing special preparations for this major event

Monday

23:00 President of the Teachers' Syndicate Nehme Mahfouz said his organization is "non- political ...We are demanding the upgrading of the salary grade in addition to the increase in wages and correcting the current imbalance in teachers' promotions "

21:30 MP Du Freij told Future TV: There is no faction that is not calling for Lebanon's sovereignty and Independence , but we at March 14 are not tools for serving anyone.

20:10 : Phalange Party: Statements that power in Lebanon is not at the presidential palace in Baabda but rather at Grand Serail clearly harms the position of the presidency which we should all seek to protect. This was in reference to the statement Aoun made today during a press conference

19:56 : Amal’s Educational Bureau: We call on professors and teachers to effectively participate in tomorrow’s strike and sit-in at Riyad Solh Square in seeking a government revision to wage increases

19:55 MP Boutros Harb, denounced the "assassination attempt against Hanna Sassin Harb in Batroun while he was accompanied by his wife and daughter. He contacted the security officials and asked them to "take the necessary measures to arrest the perpetrators and refer them to justice in order to avoid any escalation of violence in reaction to the incident" . He said we hope this will not be a sample of what to expect in the future in assaults on the freedom and lives of people in an effort to derail the parliamentary elections by trying to spread terror among the citizens . He urged calm and restraint

19:30: Students from Lebanon’s Communist Party: We call on Lebanese University president to go back on his decision barring student elections, to protect our rights and democracy.

18:10 Students from the Progressive socialist party criticized the president of the Lebanese University for cancelling the elections ...calling his decision a step backwards for the rights of the students in exercising democracy

17:46 Lebanon Files: Hanna Sassin Harb, who was wounded in Batroun is a relative of MP Boutros harb. The clash occurred between him and person from Barakat family due to an old personal dispute

17:10 pm: OTV: Security incident at Batroun market, casualties reported. Hanna Yasseen was one of the wounded in the incident

16:29 Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun addresses reporters following a meeting of his parliamentary bloc at Rabiyeh: Relations with Syria are returning to normal gradually. The issue of missing Lebanese in Syria is in the hands of the president and the cabinet; however, if I can help with this issue I will. The majority are losing their nerve in the issue of the deputy prime minister’s authorities because they fear they will not win this issue.

16:00 Pope: we hope that Lebanon will become the laboratory for finding the solution for the middle east disputes

16:00: Parliament majority leader MP Saad Hariri received Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja, discussions focused on developments in Lebanon, the region and bilateral relations.

15:50 Army patrols are searching in Sidon for the person that opened fire earlier today

15:30 Finance minister Shatah : the demands of the teachers are very a sensitive issue but the financial situation of the government is extremely tough

15:22 MP Qabbani : 6700 KM of the roads that are under review by the ministry of public works require over $100 for fixing while only $15 million is available

15:19 The security forces detained 2 Palestinians near the Baddawi camp. Both are members of Fatah al Islam

15:16 president Suleiman says his international visits are intended to reassert global Lebanese role

17:10 pm: OTV: Security incident at Batroun market, casualties reported. Hanna Yasseen was one of the wounded in the incident

16:00 Pope: we hope that Lebanon will become the laboratory for finding the solution for the middle east disputes

15:50 Army patrols are searching in Sidon for the person that opened fire

15:30 Finance minister Shatah : the demands of the teachers are very a sensitive issue but the financial situation of the government is extremely tough

15:22 MP Qabbani : 6700 KM of the roads that are under review by the ministry of public works require over $100 for fixing while only $15 million is available

15:19 The security forces detained 2 Palestinians near the Baddawi camp. Both are members of Fatah al Islam

15:15 LBC: The reconciliation meeting between Franjiyeh and Sfeir will take place in Bkirki in the presence of president Suleiman and the Maronite League

15:10 : Army units execute wide security search in Saida in search of a wanted individual who earlier shot Mohammad Saleh wounding him in his legs.

15:00 : Lebanese Forces students: Decision by president of the Lebanese University to cancel student elections comes following successive victories at universities and syndicates and is due to pressure by March 8 and their allies.

14:30: PM Siniora telephoned Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discussed developments made by Lebanese-Iraqi bilateral cabinet committee.

14:15: Iranian Ambassador Reza Shibani following his meeting with President Suleiman: President Suleiman to visit Iran on November 24th.

14:00 : Judge Nabil Sari continues his investigations by questioning eight detainees into Banking Street bombing in Tripoli on August 13

13:53 A Lebanese delegation took part in the International Media Fair in Tehran.

13:50 British FM to visit Lebanon Tuesday

13:44 Four Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace ...flew over the Chouf Mountains, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

13:20 Six Lebanese air force Hawker Hunter jet fighters roamed the Lebanese skies as part of a drill ahead of Independence Day.

13:13 Minister Jean Ogassapian: Voicing reservations on the formation of a follow-up security committee with Syria is not aimed at hindering the process of restoring normal ties with Damascus … but at hastening establishment of diplomatic ties.

11:04 Minister Wael Abu Faour to LBC: Investigations taking place in Lebanon proved that Syria supports Fatah al-Islam.

10:55 Students of the Faculty of Information stage a sit-in outside the Lebanese University to demand cabinet approval of a complete graduate program and a credit-based education system.

10:16 VOL: President Michel Suleiman discussed in a telephone call with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir the latest developments in Lebanon.

8:35 Arab League chief Amr Moussa will visit Beirut Nov. 26 for the opening of the League’s Center for Judicial and Legal Studies in Ashrafiyeh.

8:15 Tourism Minister Elie Marouni to VOL: None of the ministers had reservations about Baroud’s visit to Syria which was exaggerated by the media.

8:00 MP Marwan Hamadeh told VOL from Washington: Lebanon occupies a special place in American hearts. He ruled out a U.S. change of policy toward Lebanon.

Sunday

23:23 LBC: Shaker al Absi escaped from the Baddawi Palestinian Refugee camp ( where he was hiding inside the inside the house of Sheikh Qassem Hamze which is located inside the security zone of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command which is an ally of the Syrian regime) to Syria. The revelation were made by Ahmad Al Atar also known as Abou Abdo during interrogation by the intelligence authorities . Atar helped Absi escape.

20:25 Lebanese authorities arrested the person who helped Fatah al-Islam leader Shaker Abssi escape.

20:15 The judiciary handed over a number of Fatah al-Islam detainees to the U.N. investigation committee into the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.

17:40 A money dispute sparked a gunfight in Baalbek between Yaseen and Wehbe families, prompting the intervention of Lebanese army troops.

17:30 Pasting posters sparked a scuffle between Fadi al-Shalabi and Abdul Salam al-Safadi in Tripoli. Safadi shot and wounded Shalabi before running away.

16:15 Gen Aoun: "The International community wants to turn Lebanon into another Iraq in order to justify the presence of a neighboring racist country.”

13:48 The March 14 alliance wins three out of four seats during the Beirut Syndicate of Lawyers’ election: March 14 winners: Andre Chidiac , Farid Khoury and George Estefan . FPM's winning candidate: George Nakhle.

George Baroud of FPM withdrew from the syndicate in favor of opposition candidates Hussein Zabib for sectarian reasons

13:30: Head of Teachers Syndicate calls on private school teachers to strike on Tuesday.

13:00 : Cairo Criminal Court ordered media blackout on Susan Tamim's Trial.

12:51 Berri announces during his visit to Kuwait Lebanon’s withdrawal from Arab Parliament. He said he did not think that the Arab parliament would play the same role as the Arab League. In Kuwait he met the Emir, Crown prince and Speaker of Kuwait Parliament Jasem al-Khorafi.

11:50: Syrian Minister of Information Muhsen Bilal receives Lebanese Information Tareq Mitri at Jedidet Yabous border point. He said that the Lebanese and Syrian realtions went through a passing cloud and that Syria supports the Doha accord

11:48 Salim Aoun says decision to forge normal relations with Syria rests with the state. He accused the majority of favoring personal interests over the national interests.

11:35 Iraqi cabinet approves the security agreement with Washington.

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