were closely watched by all politicians but represented a major disappointment for the Hezbollah-led opposition, since 3 out of 4 seats were won by the supporters of March 14 alliance.
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.
11:32 Minister of Justice Ibrahim Najjar told Future TV: The security services benefited from the arrest of the “terrorist cells.” Those arrests, he added, were in favor of the national interest.
11:25 Future TV: MP Khaled Qabbani says discussion during Friday’s cabinet meeting were honest and positive because they were not based on each minister’s political affiliations. He called for forging normal relations with Syria on the basis of mutual respect of the sovereignty and independence of both countries
11:21 Pakradounian affirmed that the Tashnaq Party’s alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement during the 2009 elections will remain unchanged, but this does not obstruct meetings with other parties to reach acceptable formulas.
10:51 Beirut Syndicate of Lawyers begins election of four new members.
10:45 Free Lebanon radio: Hajjar says Lebanon-Syria communications should be conducted through official channels. "Any visit that supports Lebanese-Syrian relations is good; while any visit that only supports Syrian relations with a political party is rejected." He expressed hope that Syrian authorities will reveal the fate of the detained and missing Lebanese.
10:10 Minister of Information Tarek Mitri travels to Damascus to participate in meetings of the Arab Information and Telecommunications ministers.
09:40 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir expresses hope, during Sunday Prayer, that the cabinet will respond to the demands of the heads of school, because schools need government support
09:02 MP Youssef says Bassil attempted to impose employees on Alfa. “ He had a disagreement with the company, because he wanted to force Alfa to hire several people as employees.” He added "Cabinet has made right decision in refusing to sign proposed contracts made by minister of Communications"
Saturday
20:38 Fatah Secretary in Lebanon Sultan Abul Aynnine said Fatah al-Islam leader Abu Mohammed Awad is hiding in the refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh and efforts are underway to arrest himand hand him over to the Lebanese authorities
20:19 Arab League Ambassador Hesham Youssef departed from Beirut Airport this evening
20:09 MP Saad Hariri is meeting with MP Musbah al Ahdab in Quraitem to discuss current developments
19:30 VOL :Several youths from the village of Souweyri attacked a police station in Bayader al-Adas in Bekaa to free 2 persons detained inside the station. Four members of the security forces were injured and the attackers succeeded in releasing the detained persons. The Internal Security Forces has deployed in pursuit of the attackers and escapees.
19:20 Berri who arrived in Kuwait , said that the criticism of March 14 against the national defense strategy proposed by Change and Reform leader MP Michel Aoun was for electoral purposes. “The problem in Lebanon is not in the strategy, but in the coming parliamentary elections.” He said
18:32 A wanted person detained by Internal security forces at an internet center in Ashrafiyeh has confessed that he along with others have detonated bombs and hand grenades in Cornish el Mazraa
18:11 Information Minister Tarek Mitri held a press conference after the cabinet meeting :
- The cabinet has agreed to form a committee to follow up on the meeting of Baroud and his Syrian counterpart.
- President Suleiman briefed the cabinet about his trip to New York
- President Suleiman commented on the confessions broadcasted last week on Syrian television and said that the Future movement was among the first factions to support the judicial system in eliminating Fatah al-Islam and it was the first to support the army in confronting this group.
- The cabinet requested communication minister Gebran Bassil to seek new offers and also extended the contract with MTC touch for two months.
