including tanks, artillery and aircraft.
Murr met with US key officials who reiterated their commitment for supporting Lebanon . The U.S. policy will remain the same concerning Lebanon," Murr said
The Lebanese army according to media reports will be getting before the elections the following hardware from the US :
41 Howitzer artillery and 12 Zodiac boats
12 pilotless Raven aircrafts
1 Cessna Caravan aircraft
20 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles
10 M-60 tanks
All the above are scheduled to arrive before the election day which is scheduled for June 7
In Washington Murr met in addition to military officials special White House officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Envoy to the Middle East Senator George Mitchell, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Special Adviser Dennis Ross.
Incidentally, Feltman , who is the former US ambassador to Lebanon was nominated yesterday by president Obama to be the Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Thursday
23;35 Lebanese women married to foreigners demanded on Thursday the right to pass on their nationality to their children, threatening to boycott the June 7 parliamentary elections if they do not get their way.
23:30 Egypt's public prosecutor ordered on Thursday that 49 people held for plotting attacks on behalf of Hezbollah be kept in custody for a further 15 days, a judicial source said.
23:20 President Michel Suleiman reiterated that he has no candidates of his own. Suleiman also said that the kidnapped Middle East Airlines engineer Joseph Sader is not being held by Lebanese military intelligence and that the investigation in this case is not over yet. The president added that he will work on strengthening the powers of the presidency saying the tools of government available to him are not enough.
23:00 A new road crossing between Lebanon and Syria was inaugurated today in northern Lebanon / western Syria in Buqaiaa region
22:42 Minister Taborian told LBC: we are taking appropriate measures to provide electricity throughout Lebanon on June 7 election day and we are even discussing the possibility of importing electricity from Egypt via Syria
19:39 He<strong>zbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to make televised speech Friday at 8:30 p.m. in response to Egyptian authorities’ accusations against his party
17:15 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated Iran's first nuclear fuel manufacturing plant. Iran's atomic chief Gholam Reza Aghazadeh meanwhile declared Iran has installed around 7,000 centrifuges at its Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
15:18 President Suleiman met Michel Khouri before departing to Damascus to assume his duties as the first ever Lebanese ambassador to Syria .
15:05 LBC: President Suleiman will attend Easter mass on Sunday in Bkirki and will later hold private talks with Patriarch Sfeir.
14:20 Minister Khalifa : It is not acceptable that the draft budget has not been presented yet during the cabinet meetings for approval and must not be withheld because there are disagreements over it
14:15 President Suleiman met with the US Congressional delegation in the presence of US ambassador Sisson, and also met with the Minister Hariri to discuss educational issues
14:10 Berri met with Michel Khoury Lebanese ambassador to Syria
13:48 Tueini: election battle will paint the picture of the next parliament , we have to fight with a spirit of responsibility and reason
13:23 The strikes by the electricity and Litani labor unions has been suspends after Minister Taborian assured them that he will expedite the implementation of their demands
13:15 PM Siniora met with a U.S. Congressional delegation from the Democratic Party in the presence of US ambassador Sisson
13:13 El Seyassah: MP Marwan Hamadeh denied any reports of internal disputes taking place within the March 14 alliance, adding that its leaders had agreed to run united in the upcoming parliamentary elections, “as they had done previously.”
13:00 Minister of the Environment Tony Karam: The second phase of work to eliminate oil pollution is about to be finished.
12:15 MP Abdullah Farhat: I am still running for the Maronite parliamentary seat in Baabda. The effort of the Christian team within March 14 to limit independent Christian candidacy is unfortunate.
12:10 MP Walid Jumblatt met with a European parliamentary delegation currently visiting Lebanon and discussed the situation in Lebanon, preparations for the upcoming elections, and the possibility of European participation in overseeing Lebanon's elections
12:05 FPM leader Michel Aoun announced the names of the movement's candidates in Batroun. They are : Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil and FPM member Fayeq Younes.
11:50 Maronite Patriarch Sfeir at Holy Thursday Mass: We ask God to spread peace through our hearts and our country and to keep misfortune away from us. We ask that he always bless us and bless our country.
11:30 Head of the National Bloc Party Carlos Edde told LBC: MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement do whatever Michel Aoun tells them, even in attacking Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. I can't be a part of that bloc.
11:15 MP Samir Jisr told New TV: Major progress has been made with Najib Miqati and Minister Mohammed Safadi but it is not possible to announce the list yet. Our victory in the elections would not eliminate others, but promote clear policies.
11:10 MP Ahmad Fatfat told Saudi daily Okaz : "I would not vote for Speaker Nabih Berri as the new speaker after the upcoming elections, because he has been biased "
11:00 Minister of State for parliamentary affairs Wael Abu Faour met with a delegation from the State Employees' Cooperative and discussed some of the group's demands.
10:55am Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir will deliver an Easter message to all Lebanese, especially Christians, in the country and abroad on Friday at 9:00am.
10:45 Minister Jean Oghassabian to Future News: Some areas still need more time to be finalized. March 14 is determined to enter into the elections unified.
10:33 Change and Reform bloc MP Nematallah Abi Nasr told LBC TV: The Change and Reform bloc’s electoral list in the Metn district will win, and I do not think MP Michel al-Murr will win.
10:15 Deputy Speaker Farid Makari announced that March 14's full electoral list in Koura will be announced at on Saturday at 4:00pm .
8:35 Minister Khaled Qabbani told VOL: A solution to the issue of the budget is expected next week, however the issue of the appointments requires more time. President Suleiman wants this issue to be resolved soon because it is connected to the elections.
8:30 MP Antoine Zahra told VOL: March 14 forces will be completing the electoral lists in the next few days. There are ongoing calls to finalize the lists in 3 or 4 districts. The LF will not withdraw Armenian candidate Richard Kouyoumjian from Beirut 1.
Wednesday
23:35 The Democratic Left Movement announced their nomination of Amin Wehbe for a Shiite seat in the Western Bekaa-Rachaya district for the June 7 elections and confirmed its alliance with the March 14 alliance.
23:30 The Tawhid Movement leader Wiam Wahhab announced his party’s candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections. They are:Suleiman al-Sayegh for Aley , Hisham al-Aawar for Baabda and Bahaa Abdel Khaleq for the Shouf district. Wahab added that Abdel Khaleq would be included on Aoun's FPM list
23:20 MTV returned to the air last night but did not return to the Hezbollah controlled Dhahyah. Residents there were told it is forbidden in that area
23:10 National Bloc leader MP Carlos Edde says the politics of Gen Michel Aoun will have a catastrophic effect on the Lebanese sovereignty and independence
23:01 Pakradonian told MTV: I am still trying to find a way to reconcile Aoun and Murr despite the fact that time is not on our side
22:23 Nadim Gemayel told Future TV: There are those who claim that they care about the issue of the assassination of Bashir Gemayel ( Nadim's father) and yet they ally themselves with his assassins
22:18 Sami Gemayel told MTV; we have completed 90 % of the Metn electoraland we are hoping to officially announce it within 3 to 4 days
22:12 Zahra told MTV: there is absolute understanding between the Lebanese Forces and the March 14 alliance on every parliamentary seat and we foresee a victory for the Cedar Revolution 2
22:10 Judge sader told Future TV: The Lebanese courts have relinquished their authorities in the case of the Hariri assassination and the MOU between Lebanon and the STL is not currently required
21:49 Minister lahoud told MTV: The electoral list in Metn will soon be revealed
21:41 Geagea told MTV: Lebanon really lacks objectivity in the media and I hope MTV will play that role
21:35 Dori Chamoun told MTV: The wheel has turned and the circumstances have changed and the future battle will be for the complete independence f Lebanon and the media too
21:17 Skaff told OTV: I feel that I was wounded by Arraji and al Mustaqbal is dealing with its candidates as employees and not independent decision makers
20:45 : Information Minister Tareq Mitri at the end of cabinet session : The president stressed that government is doing its job regarding the up-coming legislative elections, praising the work of Interior Minister Baroud and the armed forced in arresting gangs in the Bekka. The president also mentioned the formation of an international Francophone force in which Lebanon could participate in as proposed by La Francophonie head Abdou Diouf. The cabinet did not discuss the 2009 draft budget or the administrative appointments, but President Suleiman said it was important to discuss them during the next session.
20:40 Pierre al Ashkar Maronite candidate in Metn June 7 elections denied that he has withdrawn his candidacy
20:14 Baroud told MTV: We are discussing a draft law that provides the Lebanese expatriates with the rights for a Lebanese ID. This draft will be presented to the parliament
20:13 MP Abi el Nasr told MTV : The draft law over providing Lebanese expatriates with IDs does not affect the demographics in Lebanon because the expatriates are from various religious sects and they are entitled for such a right
20:00 : Special Tribunal for Lebanon Spokesperson Suzanne Khan told AFP: STL has received from Lebanon part of the Hariri case and names of detainees.
19:50 : Pakradonian told al-Manar TV: My unopposed victory at the northern Metn won’t affect the Armenian participation at the elections and this won’t affect Gen. Michel Aoun in gaining 6 seats, we shall commit to Michel Murr’s person.
19:20 Security forces seized a Captagon-manufacturing laboratory in the north and arrested four suspects.
18:45 Cabinet is in session in Baabda Palace and being chaired by the president
18:40 al-Jamaa al-Islamiya: We have come to understand the justifications for PM Siniora's nomination.
18:05 : President Suleiman is meeting with Prime Minister Siniora in Baabda prior to the cabinet meeting.
18:03 : Egypt's state prosecutor accused Hezbollah of plotting to carry out attacks inside Egypt.
18:02 Lebanese Armed Forces Intelligence arrested Hussein al-Mawla, an Iraqi citizen, during a raid in the Harbate area in the Baalbek-Hermel region . He is wanted in criminal connections involving arms and drugs dealing, and car theft rings.
18: 00The death toll in Italy stands at 260 as rescuers search for more survivors of Monday's earthquake.
17: 50 Judge Saqr Saqr ordered that the arrest warrants against the 4 generals be lifted but at the same time he ordered that they remain in jail pending a decision on their fate by The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The four generals are: Former head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan, security services director Jamil Sayyed, domestic security chief Ali Hajj and military intelligence chief Raymond Azar.
17:45 : Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea received National Bloc leader MP carlos Edde and together discussed election preparations.
17:20 : Parliamentary candidate Beshra Kheirallah announced his withdrawal from the electoral race in Alley. He had wanted to be part of the Free Patriotic Movement’s electoral list.
16:30 : US Embassy in Lebanon: The US Treasury Department has joined the money-laundering special investigative agency in Lebanon.
16:04 Now Lebanon: The names of candidates for March 14’s northern Metn electoral list are: Nassib Lahoud, Sami Gemayel , Eddy Abillamaa and Sarkis Sarkis for the Maronite seats, Michel al-Murr and Elias Moukheiber for the two Orthodox seats, and Elie Karami for the Catholic seat.
16:00 : Examining Magistrate Saqr issued a decision to remove the state’s jurisdiction from the Hariri assassination case.
15:12 : parliamentary candidate Nazrat Sabonjian announced withdrawing his candidacy in the Metn, calling on his supporters to vote for rival Hagop Pakradonian.
