and was adjourned at 2:30 PM till 6: 00PM

Tuesday

21:26 Shehayyeb told LBC: nothing will be able to protect Lebanon except internal harmony , strong institutions , the constitution and Taef accord . We are for proper relationship with Syria

20:30 Safadi told OTV: Abu Alwan was the candidate for chairing the higher electoral committee for supervising the elections ... I am a member of March 14 until further notice

20:24 Shatah : the decision over payment of the retroactive increase in wages has not been made yet. I prefer for this to paid in 2 stages ...in the middle of the year and at the end of the year

20:20 pm: Speaker Berri adjourns parliament session to 10:30 am Wednesday.

20:20 pm: United Nations Security Council adopts resolution 1850 adopts 14 to 1 giving new impetus for Middle east peace process.

20:10 MP Samir Jisr addressed the parliament : “The Palestinian arms outside the Palestinian camps … pose a threat on the Lebanese security". He added "The Syrian stand behind the inflow of these arms '

20:02 MP Jisr : we don’t need any lectures over having relations with Syria . Our objections are against the theatrics of the Syrian regime at the border and inside Lebanon

19:39 MP Jamal al-Taksh addressed the parliament and was followed by MP Jisr :

19:15 MP Houry: We are in a democratic system, we will congratulate whomever wins 2009 legislative elections regardless of the results. He called for full implementation of Taef accord

19:12 Minister Bassil : we are not bashful about our right for the veto power because we fought for it and will use when needed . We are participating ministers and not for show

19:10 MP Azam Dandansh: What was achieved in northern Lebanon and in particular in Akkar was based on personal initiatives, government did nothing. He called for a defense strategy that makes the state and the army the sole decision-makers

18:42 MP Abdel Latif el-Zain addresses parliament: I ask government what happened with the issue of the Lebanese University Nabattiyeh branch, what about the appointments of magistrates and judges, for courts are almost void.

18:12 MP Akram Shehayyeb addresses parliament: Government has to decide whether it wants the Higher Lebanese-Syrian Council and Syrian tutelage or equal diplomatic relations with Syria.

18:03 Berri resumes the parliamentary session.

16:51 A celebration at the Sidon municipality to mark the 21 st anniversary of the founding of Hamas . They called for ending the Gaza blockade

16:47 Lebanese Forces responded to the Democratic party : Geagea is the first that has the right to talk about politics because he is the first to abide by the constitution after the Taef agreement

16:15 Father Marwan Thabet : We agreed with Education minister Hariri that retroactive payments of salaries will be paid from the 2008/9 and 2009/10 budgets

15:50 Now Lebanon: Senior US Congressional aid to US Congressman Gary Ackerman: Berri’s claims that he refused to meet us is a “flat-out lie”. “In fact we refused two requests to see him and he was never part of our itinerary,” the aid said.
Earlier Berri said he refused to meet with Ackerman during his visit to Lebanon.

15:15 Ghosn : The approval of the new wages is a victory for the Union

15:00 : Lebanese Army: Special committees will begin looking into car damages in Tripoli following recent events.

15:00 President Suleiman: There are important steps needed for creating a state the most important of which is that all should be in agreement about its very existence

14:48 Governor Qaloush will establish the Tarif for power generators in early 2009

14:33 Speaker Nabih Berri adjourns the parliamentary session till 6:00 pm.

14:09 Speaker Nabih Berri says Doha Agreement stipulates ministers should not obstruct cabinet work and must attend all sessions.

14:08 Change and Reform bloc MP Hassan Yaacoub addresses parliament: The issue of the displaced Lebanese, just like the Higher Relief Commission, is connected to politics.

14:00 MP Salim Salhab: I suggest the formation of a Ministry of Planning and abolition of the Council for Development and Reconstruction.

13:40 MP Mustafa Alloush: Unity of the nation is the only guarantee against naturalization of the Palestinians ...It is our duty to ensure stability, and one of its major anchors is the Taif Accord, let us implement the accord and develop it.

13:24 Defense Minister Elias Murr said from Moscow that Russia agreed to provide Lebanon with 10 MiG-29 fighter jets.

13:15 MP Mustafa Hashem: What we saw at the last cabinet meeting was a flagrant violation of the principles on which this government was formed.

13:08 MP Elias Atallah: How would the government be able to protect the Taef Accord when some people within the cabinet are trying to torpedo it as a result of instructions from external (powers).

12:58 MP Nihmatallah Abi Nasr: Our system lacks balance and mechanisms to hold others accountable. Since the president lost his role, his authorities were practically transferred to the government but the premier took charge. The Higher Relief Council is distributing asphalt in Kesrouan. Its funds should help the ill-fated and not election candidates.

12:40 MP Hassan Fadlallah: We remind the government of its responsibilities to compensate the July war victims. Who gave the government the right to move donations from one area to another?

12:16 MP Bahij Tabbara addresses parliament: Until when will the administrative and judicial institutions be run by unqualified individuals. He asked the interior minister if he is pleased the Electoral Monitoring Committee and the way it was formed and if he is confident of its neutrality

11:50 MP Mohammed Qabbani: There are security zones that have become a safe haven for criminals and outlaws.

11:11 PM Siniora addresses Parliament, saying: At the social level, the most significant accomplishment was approving pay raises, containing inflation and subsidizing diesel. It is useful to take some lessons from the past in order to adhere to what has been agreed on in Doha through denouncing violence and stopping provocations. Government’s mission has not been easy because it has been seeking to be a national unity cabinet.

10:59 Minister Mohammed Fneish to al-Manar TV: Elections should take place on time; and political forces should provide an appropriate atmosphere.

10:57 Parliament convenes to discuss the cabinet’s performance.

10:57 Gemayel says after meeting Sfeir : May 7 events mentality is still present and is used to obstruct institutions’ role

10:30 MP Nabil de Freij to Future TV: I expect some useless tension during Parliament sessions today and tomorrow.

10:14 Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel is meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki.

8:40 MP Nasser Nasrallah told VOL: All blocs will discuss issues with objectivity at today’s session. Called on MPs to avoid provocation during parliament sessions

8:35 MP Samir Franjieh told VOL: Today’s priority is the dialogue session of Dec. 22.

7:30 MP Atef Majdalani told VOL: The Mustaqbal bloc will deal with Tuesday’s parliament session with calm because Lebanon is
Still a dangerous region and international bickering ground

Monday

22:55 Hariri and Jumblatt are discussing the recent developments at Quraitem residence in the presence of Minister Aridi

22:50 Former Jordanian information minister : Jordan considers Suleiman the rescuer of Lebanon and the unifier and the protector of Lebanese institutions and constitution

22:42 Hajjar told future TV : We are trying within the parliamentary committees to strike balance between the financial situation of the treasury and the rightful and pressing demands of the citizens

20:40 Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a speech on Gaza siege: "What Livni said was not a slip of the tongue. The aim behind the Gaza siege is to break the Palestinian people’s will in order for the Zionists to impose their conditions. We call on the Egyptian leadership to open the Rafah border crossing permanently for the citizens of Gaza.". He called for a demonstration Friday to protest against the Gaza blockade

20:23 An explosion was heard in Ain al-Helweh refugee camp, according to reports in the media.

18:25 Aoun : "The Taef accord needs a shakeup because it shifted the presidential authorities to the prime minister" . He added" the Taef accord is not a bible and like any law it should be subjected to amendments. The Taef accord has created imbalance within the institutions and the crises of the past 2 years are the proof "

18:22 Now Lebanon source : Judge Ghaleb Ghanem is tipped to become the next head of the Supreme Judicial Council , while Judge Andre Sader is set be the next head of the Shoura Council.

17:40 President Suleiman has ended his official tw0-day visit to Jordan and has returned to Lebanon

16:55 Al Markaziyeh : The International investigation commission has concluded its investigation and the names of culprits will create a shock

16:35: MP Ibrahim Kenaan: Parliament approval of Public Sector wage increases is a victory to citizens rights; government financial austerity begins with ending government waste.

16:20 French sources told AKI: Sarkozy plans to meet Suleiman only during his visit to Lebanon and is not planning to visit Syria

16:15 Baroud chaired the first meeting of the election committee that will be supervising the elections

15:05 : Press Syndicate re-elects its board headed by Mohammad Baalbaki.

15:00 Minister Najjar left the intensive care unit at the hospital and has resumed his ministerial activities from his hospital room

14:30 The democratic party responds to Geagea : "He is the last person authorized to talk about politics"

14:14 UN relief organization: The state absorbed 43 % of the cost of damages during the July 2006 war

14:05 pm: Telecommunications Minister Gibran Bassil: Alfa will offer 75,000 news lines within one month and a half and will organize a public auction on Dec 22 to sell 50 “distinguished” lines

14:00 Judge Oueidat interrogates 9 detainees over the Nahr el Bared events

Tags: Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon, Michel Khoury, Najjar, source: Lebanon Files, Suleiman, Syria, Ya Libnan