King Abdullah of Jordan called after his first meeting with President Suleiman for the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 and declared support for dialogue in Lebanon.
Monday
13:14 Speaker Nabih Berri adjourns the parliamentary session, following the adoption of a law on minimum wage increase and make retroactive pension payments by installments over three years.
11:42 Energy and Water Minister Alain Tabourian sets the price for every 20 liters of fuel oil at 15,000 LL. ( $10.00) or $1.90 per US gallon
11:35: MP Carlos Eddeh from Bkirki: I still consider myself in line with March 14 Forces. Those describing Aoun as a “Christian Patriarch” know nothing about Christianity. Eddé said that there was a contradiction between Christianity and Aoun’s personality. “Jesus’ message is one of love and forgiveness, whereas we only see in Aoun’s speech animosity, violence and creating dispute among people,” he said.
11:30 : PM Siniora at the debut of parliament legislative session: The legislature is master of its own domain, I bow in respect at parliament’s will, and I say those who take a decision bear the responsibility.
11:18 : Parliamentary legislative session begins to look into high cost of living and for increasing public wages.
11:15 : PM PM Fouad Siniora urges MPs not to subject financial situation to more temptations and hopes the item related to soldiers will be withdrawn.
10:49 Prime Minister Fouad Siniora arrives at Nejmeh square to attend the parliamentary session on minimum wage increase.
10:37 PM Fouad Siniora says that keeping the economy separate from political disputes will increase the level of development in the country.
10:30 : Two females hurt in an accident with a UNIFIL Spanish armored vehicle on the Khiam-Burj al-Mulouk road.
10:00 : Maronite Patriarch receives Spanish ambassador to Lebanon.
8:45 VOL: Criminals arrested for burglary and kidnappings cut their bodies with blades while in detention at Baabda police station. Were taken to al-Hayat hospital under heavy security . Among them were Ali Haidous, Nidal Amin, Ahmad Ballout, Ali Malak, Rabih Charbel and Rabih Dib.
8:20 MP Michel Moussa told VOL: Consensus reached by parliamentary committees on pay raises will be quietly approved during today’s legislative session.
08:12 Spokesperson of the International Tribunal told al Akhbar : the issue of the detainees is the responsibility of the Lebanese courts
08:09 al Diyar : the opposition will be holding a meeting this week and will be attended by Berri, Aoun, Franjiyeh, Hezbollah to discuss the upcoming elections
06:19 Baroud: My ministry has all the problems of the country
06:12 detained general Jamil Sayyed intends to go on hunger strike today
06:02 Minster Murr participated in the Manama conference and will head to Moscow today
05:48 President Suleiman is having very serious and useful discussions in Jordan with King Abdullah and they intend to revive the Jordanian Lebanese committee
05:43 ministerial sources: the threat of use of the veto power by the opposition ministers is a very dangerous development
05:37 Berri told an Nahar : The parliament meeting today is intended to give the rights to those that deserve them the most even if this is took too long to be accomplished
05:23 a legislative parliament session today morning to review the law regarding the minimum wage
Sunday
21:52 Zuaiter told New TV : The opposition wanted the vote on the election committee to be based on 2/3 majority , but the ruling majority preferred to have it half plus one basis
21:44 MP Aoun visited Bishop Aoudeh to brief him on his Syrian visit
21:30 Finance minister Shatah told New TV: what happened at the cabinet meeting yesterday was regrettable : We had a choice between forming an election committee or not and we chose the first option
20:50 President Bush and Iraqi PM Maliki sign the Iraqi US security agreement
20:30 The Jordanian parliament speaker said after meeting president Suleiman : We hope the political maturity will guide the Lebanese leaders towards achieving security and stability
20:07 MP Adwan told New TV: We are in disagreement over the visit of General Aoun to Syria in all its forms . What we are calling for is a relationship between two sovereign and independent states
18:30 King Abdullah of Jordan called after meeting President Suleiman for the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 and declared support for dialogue in Lebanon.
17:00 PM Saniora is meeting Speaker Nabih Berri at his Ain al-Tineh residence
15:41 president Bush arrived in Baghdad on a surprise visit
14:45 NNA: Gunmen overnight killed two Lebanese citizens and wounded two others in Guinea-Bissau in Africa.
13:30 President Michel Suleiman, and his accompanying delegation, leave for Jordan on a two-day official visit
11:23 Geagea told Voice of Lebanon: He has a vision for the defense strategy which focuses on a Swiss model that emphasizes neutrality, which he would bring to the next meeting of the national dialogue talks. He criticized the behavior of March 8 ministers and called it "unacceptable." He supports international election monitoring which is designed to restrict the use of violence that aims at influencing the results of the elections.
11:02 MP Ibrahim Kanaan told LBC: SSNP has been in northern Metn for years and stating that if it has a candidate on the FPM list then it means he had been imposed by Syria, is not true. Gen. Aoun discussed parliamentary elections with the Syrians in the framework of upcoming events in the country, but not the alliances
10:50 Minister of State Jean Ogassapian told Future TV that there had been an agreement not to change any of the names of candidates nominated for the committee to oversee the 2009 parliamentary elections, which was formed by cabinet on yesterday. “If the opposition deals with the parliamentary elections in the same way it dealt with the matter yesterday, this is a bad sign... They tried to use their one third veto "
10:14 MP Elias Atallah: "March 14 coalition had made several achievements despite the fact that there is a neighboring regime that still threatening our existence.” he said . In reference to Syria . Atallah added that FPM leader MP Michel Aoun’s electoral position in Metn would be difficult if Defense Minister Elias al-Murr maintains his independent and neutral path.
10:01 Mouawad told Radio Free Lebanon : “There is an attempt by the Syrian-Iranian axis and its allies, whom [Free Patriotic Movement leader MP] General Michel Aoun has joined, to return Lebanon to what it was before 2005, in order to say that Lebanon is incapable of ruling itself. "
9:20 Minister Abu Faour: I support Minister Safadi, Tripoli deserves a lot. .. We did not ask Minister Arslan to change his political stance. We have agreed to maintain calm relationship despite our political differences. Jumblatt’s stance is wise and won't relinquish it. There is an attempt to subdue Jumblatt by saying that the Mountains is subject to rift; and I say there is no rift in the mountains.
Saturday
18:33 Now Lebanon: Syrian authorities have rented a number of flats in a building in Ras Beirut, which will house the Syrian Embassy according to well informed sources
18:21 pm: Internal Security Forces Director General Ashraf Rifi ordered the strengthening of traffic police force in Beirut and Mount Lebanon with the addition of 500 police and including 18 officers during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
17:55: Nayla Tueni said on the 3rd anniversary of her father’s assassination: The spring of freedom calls on the Lebanese to vote for truth, justice and for those fighting for the international tribunal at the coming elections. The spring of freedom calls for voting for those seeking equal and balanced relations with Syria, for border demarcation, dialogue and peace, not for those seeking to place conditions for reconciliation.
17:00 : A Popular gathering is taking place in Antelias to mark the third anniversary of Gebran Tueni's assassination
16:17 : Cabinet session ended with the formation of an election supervisory commission , headed by Judge Ghassan Abu Alwan; no discussion made over judiciary appointments, a special cabinet session will be held for discussing the issue of the Higher Relief Commission.
16:00 Carter said after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that US ambassador will return to Syria after Obama inauguration . Carter also said that peace between Israel and its neighboring states would not be possible without a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, as well as Palestinian and Lebanese territory.
15:30 : Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Jean Kahwaji meets U.S. Congressional delegation headed by Congressman Gary Ackerman, discussions focused on U.S. aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
15:15 : MP Boutros Harb explained that he did not request to visit Syria adding, he won’t do so pending the straightforwardness of bi-lateral relations.
15:00 : LBC: Economy Minister Mohammed Safadi walked out of the cabinet meeting at Baabda in protest against the exclusion of Tripoli from representation in the 2009 parliamentary election supervising commission.
14:15 : U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman following his meeting with President Suleiman: Lebanon’s future is not for sale and the Lebanese army deserves the support of the international community.
11:52 Jumblat at a press conference in Moukhtara: Assad has the right to live in stability while his territory is occupied, but he is not allowed to use my land. As a Lebanese citizen I have the right to live in peace. The Syrian regime is using refugee camps as bases for terrorism. Syria must stop promoting terrorism and must stop flow of arms. I have delayed my meeting with Hezbollah's Nasrallah, but now I’m ready to meet him if Arslan wants me to. I have no problem communicating with former minister Wiam Wahhan. I have a firm position towards the Syrian regime and I will not relinquish this position.
