and would bolster the capabilities of its army throughout Lebanon.

Suleiman thanked Mubarak and said " Egypt had always sided with Lebanon.".

In response to a question about the results of the US elections Suleiman said: What happened in the last elections in America is a great, historic achievement and this democracy of change should apply to the Middle East.

In response to a question about the inter-Lebanese dialogue Mubarak said " The Lebanese dialogue does not require coordination by the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon nor the Arab League chief Amr Moussa, stressing that "the Lebanese can talk."

In other developments

- Daniele Bellemare, International Investigator probing the Hariri Assassination needs more time and for this reason he has asked several key governments to back a request to extend his mission by two months. According to al-Hayat newspaper such a request requires the approval of the Lebanese Government and the U.N. Security Council.

- Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun is planning to visit Syria in the last week of November. Preparations by the Syrian government are taking place to welcome him in the Christian areas. Aoun is an ally of the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah group.

- Ain el Helweh Palestinian refugee camp has a problem with an unwanted guest. Fatah al-Islam's alleged leader in Lebanon, Abed Mohammed Awad is hiding inside the camp . Some Palestinian factions want to hand him over to the Lebanese authorities while other sympathizers such as the Islamist groups want him freed but can't figure out how, since the Lebanese army and security forces surround the camp.

- The March 14 majority alliance accused the Syrian regime of using the Fatah al Islam allegation in order to avert responsibility for assassination crimes committed in Lebanon since 2005 ." The alliance said in a statement " the Syrian regime is trying to preempt the final report by the international commission probing the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes."

- The Parliament majority leader and Head of al-Mustaqbal movement MP Saad Hariri on Friday met with the Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin , who expressed Russian interest in helping the Lebanese army."We have to put a plan in place when Defense Minister Elias Murr visits Russia. Hariri said.

Saturday

20:46 president Suleiman returned from his trip to Egypt where he met president Mubarak

20:39 Iraqi speaker of the parliament Mahmoud al Mashhadani arrived in Beirut on a 2 day private visit

20:13 Qabbani told future TV : The Future movement gave the cover to the army during the war with Fatah al Islam

20:11 told OTV: I am insisting on an investigation of the attack incident against my bodyguards and will not be quiet about it

18:41 PM Siniora discussed with the minster of displaced the subject of closing the ministry and the status of its employees

18:12 Suleiman said in Cairo: The demarcation of the borders with Syria will start as soon as possible after the completion of the procedures required

16:54 South Korean Minister of defense arrived in Beirut to inspect the Korean UNIFIL contingent

15:50 Information minister Mitri told reporters after the cabinet meeting : PM Siniora reminded everybody of how much Lebanon suffered from “Fatah al-Islam” and said that the way the Syrian TV presented it is strange and it would have been better to discuss the matter through the channels between the two countries....We hope DPM Abu Jamra 's absence from the meeting was temporary and not a boycott....Baroud's visit to Damascus will not be postponed.

15:45 Ministers Baroud and Bassil left the meeting along with Aoun to protest against the attack against his bodyguards who were beaten by the security of the Grand Serail

15:45 Minister Aoun revealed that one of his bodyguards suffered a concussion and other suffered had a broken hand

15:43 Minister Aoun left the cabinet meeting to protest against the attack against his bodyguards who were beaten by the security of the Grand Serail. The minister did not disclose why the bodyguards were attacked and what prompted the Internal Security Forces to use police dogs to search his car. When PM Siniora was informed about the incident he immediately called for an investigation. “PM Siniora assured the cabined that the incident will be thoroughly investigated" Minister Mitri said

15:02 Abu Jamra boycotts the cabinet meeting because it did not have his job description on its agenda

13:00 President Suleiman said during a press conference with President Mubarak in Cairo: What happened in the last elections in America is a great, historic achievement and this democracy of change should apply to the Middle East. Thanked Egypt for its support to Lebanon

11:08 Future News: Defense Minister Elias al-Murr declines to comment on Syrian TV broadcast of alleged Fatah al-Islam confessions, instead saying he would discuss the issue during his visit to Syria.

11:00 Sources: Cabinet has begun discussing means of responding to Syrian accusation that the Future Movement is funding Fatah al-Islam.

10:42 The cabinet convenes in the Grand Serail.

10:41 Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar says Thursday’s Syrian TV broadcasts and accusations are “under study,” before heading to cabinet session.

10:40 Prior to cabinet session, Labor Minister Mohammad Fneish says Thursday’s alleged Fatah al-Islam TV broadcast in Syria is a judicial and security issue, and not political.

10:02 General Aoun told students at his residence in Rabiyeh: "Soon, we will pass the ( electoral) law, and all those who are 18 will have their rights ( to vote) . “You have to be a people of accountability,” he continued. “Where does accountability happen? At the ballot box. This is the first duty you have. Democracy is the practice of choice, through which you express your opinion.”

10:00 President Michel Suleiman arrives to Cairo.

09:41 The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Northern Command has conducted its second largest exercise since the July 2006 War

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 meeting interior minister Baroud

17:20 The cabinet will hold a meeting tomorrow

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