Saturday

21:02 Belgium PM Yves Leterme after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri at his official residence in Ai el Tinah: "Establishing the embassies in Beirut and Damascus will strengthen the relations between Lebanon and Syria

19:10 French President Sarkozy told former minister Mouawad : I have signed an Order of the Legion of Honor of officer rank to honor you and reward you for the excellent services that you have performed

19 :00 March 14 achieved a sweeping 7-0 victory in the Bank Workers Union elections in north Lebanon.

18:15 Independence Movement leader Michel Mouawad: "Those trying to defend or cover up the four arrested generals are certainly accomplice in the crime against ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. Let them tell us how can protecting a political crime, non-demarcation of the border, turning the borders into passages for smuggling arms and weakening the Lebanese army protect Lebanon. Let them tell us where does the Resistance ends and where does the militia start. Defending our territories requires a defense strategy based on the Taef accord, the Doha agreement and U.N. resolutions, particularly 1701. Lebanon’s future lies in the hands of you, Christians. Lift the Christian (political) cover off Hizbullah weapons. Lebanon’s real protection demands an immediate call on everybody to return to the legitimate authority."

Mouawad continued by addressign his fellow Zghorta citizens, "It’s time for change, but change does not mean a coup. We shall continue our battle, together peacefully and democratically, to revive Lebanon."

17:02 President Michel Sleiman met with Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme to discuss the Lebanese domestic situation and its foreign relations, particularly its relations with Syria. Sleiman thanked the Belgian government for its political and economic support and for its efforts to preserve peace, especially through its UNIFIL contingent and mine clearing efforts. Sleiman, according to the statement issued by Baabda Palace on Saturday, assured Leterme of the Lebanese identity of the Shebaa farms area. With regard to the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border, Sleiman said that the Syrians insisted on liberating the Shebaa farms prior to finalizing this process. Leterme said that Belgium has allocated three million Euros for reconstruction efforts in southern regions.

16:30 Prime Minister Fouad Siniora meets his Belgian counterpart, Yves Leterme, at the Grand Serail.

16:01 A ceremony to mark the 19th anniversary of the assassination of President Rene Mouawad began at Rene Mouwad Institute in Mejdlaya, Zghorta.

15:03 The Syrian Arab News Agency reports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Lebanese Army Commander Jean Kahwaji in Damascus. An-Nahar daily said Qahwaji, who heads a military delegation, would discuss, among other topics, whereabouts of missing Lebanese soldiers and demarcation of the joint borders. Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers have been missing since Oct. 13, 1990 when they fought against the Syrian army that attacked an enclave controlled by then army commander and interim Premier Gen. Michel Aoun.

14:50 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the confrontation persists and if the other side managed to win the elections Syria's influence would return to Lebanon.

13:45 Aoun denies terrorist label for Hezbollah, defends four generals accused of murdering Rafik Hariri

12:00 Minister of Youths and Sport Talal Arslan Arrived in Cuba on an official visit.

11:41 Change and Reform bloc MP Chamel Mozaya said that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun was visiting Syria as an important national leader, without feeling any guilt or complexes. “Some go secretly to Syria,” he said, adding, “after General Aoun’s visit to Syria we will see how they will fight to go to Syria.”

11:12 Syrian daily lauds Aoun as noble adversary and national resistor. The Syrian Tishreen newspaper said in an editorial on Saturday that Change and Reform leader MP Michel Aoun has proved that he is a noble adversary when he fights, a friendly neighbor when the reasons for fighting disappear and a national resistor against all projects that target his country.

11:00 Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji has arrived in Damascus.

10:45 March 14 General Secretariat member Michel Mouawad said that the 19th anniversary of the martyrdom of President Rene Mouawad had a particular importance this year because he was “the first martyr to revive and assure free democratic choice in Lebanon.”

Speaking to the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Saturday, Michel Mouawad said that Lebanon was currently “witnessing a counter revolution to the Cedar Revolution, which tries to destroy the project for which President Mouawad was martyred.”

“The Cedar Revolution demonstrated that we are stronger than assassinations, obstructions and the use of weapons,” he said. “We are living a second chance. The first chance was in 1989 and it was missed because of the assassination of President Mouawad. Today, we should not miss the second chance because it might be the last,” he warned. Mouawad added that they would confront the use of weapons and assassinations with unity and free will.

10:10 Future News CEO laments slow response to attack on journalist. Future News CEO, Nadim al-Munla, said that the lack of speed and seriousness with which issue of Thursday’s attack on Future News journalist Omar Harqous, by supporters of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party, was dealt with would negatively reflect upon the media and all journalists. After meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Saturday in the Grand Serail, al-Munla said that two people had been arrested and a third person was wanted for the attack. He added, however, that Harqous had informed him that the total number of attackers was much greater than this figure.

09:27 Soueid: Aoun is a willing actor paying a debt for returning to Lebanon

Friday, November 28

17:02 MP Michel Faraon on Friday warned against apparent schemes to spread violence to counter launching of the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. Faraon said the alleged scheme aims at "implying that the international tribunal would lead to catastrophes in Lebanon."

He said random acts of violence, the latest of which was the attack on news reporter Omar Harqous on Thursday, are designed to "relay a message that the Doha Accord would collapse if the international tribunal functions."

Faraon called for prosecuting "those responsible for such acts." U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had announced that the tribunal would be functioning by March 1.

16:15 President Michel Suleiman told visiting Arab justice ministers freedoms, topped by freedom of the media, should be respected.

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