with the Syrian delegation since 1 PM .

According to media reports the talks will focus on:

- Controlling Lebanese-Syrian borders
- Cooperation on prevention of smuggling through land and sea
- Exchanging intelligence on Israel
- Giving logistical support to the Lebanese Armed Forces
- Resumption of military training sessions of Lebanese officials in Syria

The discussions could also include the case of Hussein Jaafar, the main suspect in the deadly ambush that targeted an army patrol last April in the Bekaa Valley and left four soldiers dead. Jaafar who traveled to Turkey from Syrian with forged Syrian documents was arrested in Turkey but later handed over to Damascus. Syria initially offered to extradite him to Lebanon but later reneged on its offer

Tuesday

16:58 The White House announced that Netanyahu, Mubarak and Abbas will visit Washington in this order May 18, 26 and 28

16:30 Hariri met Zaki to discuss the latest developments and also met Hamada and Hajjar and several delegations

16:00 Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Aoude received the following members of the March 14 Forces parliamentary candidates from the Aley electoral district : Fouad al-Saad, Akram Shehayeb, Henry Helou and Fadi Habr.

15:45 Basil: the elections in Jezzine will not affect the rest of the opposition

15:35 Hout told LBC: We support the candidacy of PM Siniora in Saida. The continued candidacy of Jamaa Islamiya in the rest of the districts is a decision that is left for the Jammaa

15:15 Finance ministry : $14 billion of the debt will mature in 2009 including 8.8 billion in Lebanese pounds and 4.7 billion in foreign currency

15:10 OTV: Thirteen people were poisoned in a school in Saydet Magdousheh after inhaling smoke left by Israeli warplanes flying over the region

15:10 Nazem Khoury : The independent bloc aims at securing a legislative arm that will be able to implement the presidential oath which has supposedly united all the Lebanese politicians

15:05 LBC : The meeting between Berri and Hariri falls within the framework of calming the atmosphere before the elections

15:00 Qazzi from Maarab : the formation of the Kesrwan electoral list needs some final touches and all those involved are cooperating

14: An Nahar : British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said there are no ongoing negotiations with Hezbollah, adding that the party should abide by Security Council resolution 1701. He also said : The rearmament of Hezbollah is in violation of UN resolution 1559.

13:56 117 items on the agenda of the cabinet meeting tomorrow in Baabda

13:45 The Syrian military delegation is currently meeting with Lebanese army chief general Kahwaji in Yerze

13:37 Sahili told Lebanon TV: The problem of Jezzine will remain in Jezzine and will not spill over to other areas. Whether Berri or Aoun wins it is the same , since whoever wins will benefit the opposition

13:30 Speaker Nabih Berri meets with Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri in Ain al-Tineh

13:15 President Michel Suleiman is currently meeting with Syrian Military Chief of Staff at Baabda Palace.

13:00 National News Agency issued a correction stating that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter did not arrive to Beirut early this morning. However, a Carter Foundation team was on board the aircraft to prepare for monitoring upcoming elections.

12:31 MP Hassan Yaacoub: Majority will not succeed in instigating dispute between Aoun, Suleiman. He is referring to Aoun's attack yesterday against the president

11:20 Syrian military chief of staff Gen. Ali Habib, accompanied by a military delegation, arrived in Beirut for talks with Lebanese officials.

11:00 Beirut 2 district parliamentary candidate Abbas Yaghi announced his withdrawal from the election race hoping that the polls would be free and democratic.

10:13 Syrian Army Commander Ali Habib enters Lebanese territory through Masnaa border crossing

10:10 Maronite Patriarch Sfeir received Aley district March 14 parliamentary candidates Fouad al-Saad, Akram Shehayeb, Henry Helou and Fadi Habr.

09:19 Pope tours Jerusalem sites at heart of Middle East conflict

8:30 Tourism Minister Elie Marouni told VOL: The March 14 list in Zahle will be finalized by week’s end.

7:40 Former MP Nazem el-Khoury told VOL in response to Aoun's attack against the president : MP Michel Aoun’s theory is based on accusations. We wonder which authority is good in his opinion. He is never satisfied with the performance of President Suleiman or Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

Monday

23:55 Army Lt. Gen. McChrystal, will replace Gen. David McKiernan, as the top general in Afghanistan as President Barack Obama tries to turn around a stalemated war, defense officials said. Pentagon chief Robert Gates says it's time for 'fresh thinking, fresh eyes' in the troubled country

23:52 Egyptian FM Abul Gheith : President Mubarak will be in Washington on May 26 /27 where he will meet with president Obama and key US officials

23:50 Future TV has a video recording of a meeting in Syria of the western Bekaa - Rashaya March 8 candidates who were celebrating the opening of their electoral office in Zahriya , Syria. They all praised Syria and called for stronger relations with the Syrian regime . The Zahriya office was opened and controlled by the Syrian intelligence. The candidates that attended are : Former deputy speaker Elie Ferzli , former minister Abdel Rahim Murad, FPM's Henry Shadeed who relayed Aouns regards , Amal's Nasser Nasser Allah and Faisal el Dawood

23:45 Tourism Minister Marouni : My dream is to turn Lebanon into a tourist attraction throughout the year

22:52 MP Walid Jumblatt and Minister Ghazi Aridi returned from Riyadh Saudi Arabia on a private jet .In Riyadh they met King Abdullah and several key officials

22:40 Salah el Haraka told OTV: Our alliance as independents with the March 14 alliance in Baabda district is for the elections and in my opinion the polling boxes of the Christians may remain in Al Dhahiya

22:39 The Egyptian court has decided to end the arrest of three accused of belonging to the Hezbollah cell in Egypt, but the prosecutors decided to continue their detention for further investigations . The 3 are : Nasser Khalil Abu Amra (Palestinian), Adel Suleiman Moussa and Nimr Fahmi el Tawil (Egyptian )

22:14 Camille Ziadeh told Future TV ": we are fighting a political battle and the names of our electoral list will be announced next week

21:21 Edmond Rizk told Future TV: No one can outbid us on patriotism. We reject the assumed role of defender of Christians specially by someone who attacked the Patriarch ( In reference to Gen Aoun who has been attacking the Patriarch for several years )

20:54 The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a non-binding statement reaffirming its commitment to a "just and lasting peace" in the Middle East, based on a "two-state solution."

20:10 President Michel Suleiman met Interior Minister Ziad Baroud. They discussed the security situation in Lebanon and preparations for elections.

20:06 Carlos Edde told Future TV: All Aoun's MPs have to follow his orders and they are afraid of standing up to him , even though they do not agree with what he says

20:04 Gemayel told TV The other side is practicing worse than "tripartite division of power"

19:30 Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir returned home from Jordan where he welcomed the pope : We condemn the offensive language used in election-related speeches. He said he hoped that “the elections will be carried out in a calm and stable political climate.”

19:09 The Kataeb party expressed in a statement concern about the intention of some to reduce the term of the president and also stated that the only way to strengthen security is by strengthening the army and the internal security forces. Media has reporting that General Aoun is opposed to the Taef accord , wants the term of the president reduced and the power in Lebanon to be divided equally between the Christians, Shiites and Sunnis. Currently and according to Taef accord the power in Lebanon is equally shared between the Christians and Muslims

19:00Lebanon files: Gen Aoun has asked his supporters to meet him at the Bourg Hamoud stadium at 5PM on May 31

18:54 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Jordan's King Abdullah II agreed in talks on Monday that the Middle East needs a US push to break the deadlock in peace efforts.

18:44 Information minister Mitri : No political publications should immediately cease publishing any political material and actions will be taken against those violators
18:33Geagea : Kesrwan electoral list will be announced within 7 to 10 days

15:55 PM Siniora : The agreement between Mustaqbal and Jamaaa al Isalmiyeh is going as planned

17:50 Candidate Nadim Gemayel after a meeting with Samir Geagea: A solution is imminent with regards to the Armenian-Catholic seat in Ashrafiyeh. A list will be announced by the end of the week.

17:30 MP Michel Aoun: I will not accept the president's silence over the rumors that have been targeting me. They are telling lies about our intentions to topple the president. There have been numerous assaults on our billboards, all in the same places. There are advertisement billboards that insult the Lebanese flag by changing its colors, a matter forbidden under the Constitution

16:10 National Bloc leader Carlos Edde responded to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun: He is afraid to speak my language because I speak the language of truth.

15:35: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Monday confirmed that a new government will be announced within the next 48 hours, will exclude Hamas and will be headed by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad . The new government will quit once a government that includes Hamas will be formed

15:20 Correction : Ya Libnan : Saleh El Arakji has informed Ya Libnan that he will announce at 5 PM Monday at Galleria hotel Jneh( formerly Mariott) his candidacy for the parliamentary elections in Beirut III electoral district. ( Not Sunday as previously mentioned by Ya Libnan )

15:10 Boueiz responded to MP Abi Nasr: The peacock is more colorful than the chick, the color of its feathers are brighter than your pale fluff.

14:40 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea meets in Maarab with Aley MPs Akram Shuhayeb, Fadi Haber and Foaud al-Saad.

14:30 Interior Minister Ziad Baroud held a press conference on today’s traffic jam: I call on all citizens that suffered from today’s traffic jam to legally sue the contractor that caused the delay.

14:22 Jumblatt: The unity of March 14 is above all other considerations if we are to secure the state that meets the ambitions of the people

14:25 Beirut 2 district parliamentary candidate Abbas Yaghi announced his withdrawal from the electoral race.

14:20 Amin Gemayel told VOL: My health condition is very good, and I am sad about the fabricated rumors made without media censorship

14:12 US journalist Roxanna Sabri is released after being imprisoned in Iran on accounts of espionage