More than 70 people have been arrested this year in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for Israel.
Aoun's position has prompted a reshuffling of political cards, particularly after the optimistic mood that predicted the birth of the new government soon.
Sources close to Hariri told the daily As-Safir in remarks published Thursday that the premier-designate was shocked at Aoun's position, particularly since details of a Cabinet lineup were almost completed and Aoun himself said in an interview with a French magazine that an agreement was in the works.
Sources close to Hariri told the daily As-Safir in remarks published Thursday that the premier-designate was shocked at Aoun's position, particularly since details of a Cabinet lineup were almost completed and Aoun himself said in an interview with a French magazine that an agreement was in the works.
An-Nahar newspaper quoted an FPM source as saying that Aoun "did not receive an acceptable offer" from Hariri, leaving the ball in the court of the prime minister designate .
Informed sources said Suleiman, who returned home from an official visit to Spain, is likely to contact Aoun to settle the dispute, particularly since all parties appeared to be aware of their share in the government …be it names of ministers or portfolios—and that Aoun would be getting the ministries of Education and Displaced .
Some political observers interpreted Aoun's change in position is due to the proposed appointment of MP Boutros Harb in return for the approval to reappoint Jebran Bassil in the new Cabinet and talks about granting Harb the Justice ministry.
Other observers interpreted Aoun's new position as a signal that Syria has not given the green light to Hezbollah-ed opposition over the government formation
Thursday
7:37pm Jumblatt : my meeting with Suleiman. It seems some internal and regional forces did not want the Saudi Syrian rapprochement to succeed and they may be aiming at the Taef accord
6:00 pm: Tehran strongly rejects reported claims by an Israeli daily that the Iranian and Israeli delegations held secret talks during a September meeting of the International Committee on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in Cairo
5:52pm "Voice of Lebanon": two people were killed an several others seriously injured in a terrible traffic accident on the highway connecting Hazmieh and Karantina near the low bridge and all were transferred Lebanese Canadian and Al Mashreq hospitals
was
5 :31pm the investigation in the case of Geagea vs Wahab was concluded
5:07 president Assad called for “the need to speed up the formation of a government of national unity, restore the situation in Lebanon to its natural state and to its natural role after years of turmoil and division”
4:40pm A delegation of Human Rights Association and the families of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons visited the headquarters of the European Commission to follow up on its promise on working to solve the case of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons
4:25pm Grand Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani expressed hope that all Lebanese will put together their efforts to facilitate the process of forming the new government as soon as possible.
4:20pm Speaker Nabih Berri told Al-Afkar magazine that he has never expressed his rejection of appointing losers in elections as ministers. He also said that MP Walid Jumblatt is a partner in pacification and in saving the country.
4:15 pm Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said two reasons might have led Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to change his demands: “Either a major player believes the time is not ripe to form a cabinet in Lebanon ( in reference to Syria) , which we hope is not true, or Aoun is seeking to improve his position .”
3:51 pm MP Boutros Harb said he is willing to forsake his potential appointment as minister for the sake of appeasing Aoun, reiterating that taking part in the new cabinet is not a “personal” demand. He added that national interest is more important than Aoun’s “sensitivities with certain people.”
3:15pm The European Commission granted Lebanon aid for the value of 43 million euros according to the 2009 annual work program of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).
2:30 PM A senior Iranian lawmaker said the UN nuclear watchdog was obliged to provide fuel to an Iranian reactor without Tehran sending its low-enriched uranium abroad for further processing, a news agency reported on Thursday.
2:12 PM At least 24 militants were killed during military operation in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area in the last 24 hours, while two security forces personnel lost their lives and four others were injured.
02:10 pm Suleiman and Jumblatt discussed ways and means of overcoming the current obstacles facing the government formation and also met Fneish, Bassil and Abi Nasr
1:01 pm Minister Mario Aoun complaing about the kidnapping of his bodyguard : Such acts only increases our resolve and determination against the militia acts that are aimed at silencing the FPM
1:00pm President Michel Suleiman is meeting with MP Walid Jumblatt and his son Taymour at Baabda palace.
12:45 pm Change and Reform bloc MP Simon Abi Ramia told LBC TV that the cabinet-formation atmosphere remains positive, adding significant progress has been made between the bloc and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.
12:38pm MP Boutros Harb said Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has expressed concern over Lebanon’s future and what the consultations on cabinet formation are going through.
12:20pm Former MP Mosbah al-Ahdab told LBC: Armed groups are being formed in Tripoli’s Bab al-Tabbaneh by Hezbollah.
12:17 pm Lebanon's TMA cargo carrier has resumed operations at Rafik Hariri International Airport after lying idle for several years. TMA’s chairman Mazen Bsat said the first plane, type Airbus 300-600, is expected to arrive in the coming few months
12:12 Armed Islamist group ambushes Algerian security forces in Kabylie region, kills at least six
12:00pm Labor Minister Mohammed Fneish met his Egyptian counterpart Aisha Abdel Hadi. Egyptian ambassador Ahmed al-Bediawi attended the talks that centered on bilateral ties and Egyptian workers in Lebanon.
11:55 Al-Akhbar: Gebran Bassil holds talks with Nasrallah on Aoun’s behalf
11;20 As-Safir: MP Walid Jumblatt FPM chief Michel Aoun against getting trapped in a "bidding war" over Christian representation. He also cautioned that "there are internal and external forces that do not want the historic meeting between King Abdullah and President Bashar al-Assad to be productive. From here, Aoun should see the picture as a whole without indulging into a lot of details. " He said
11:13 Hoss : If the source of cabinet obstruction is external then what a shame and if internal then how low can low be
10:45 Aoun sources: everything hinges on a decisive meeting within the next few hours between Aoun and Hariri
10:00 VOA: Police in Pakistan say gunmen have killed a high-ranking army officer and another soldier during an ambush in Islamabad.
9:30 MP Ibrahim Kenaan to Sawt al-Mada: Aoun backs the idea of cabinet formation as soon as possible in a way that backs national partnership
9:10 AFP: A representative of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission held several meetings with an Iranian official to discuss nuclear issues in the region, Yael Aron, the commission's spokesperson said and added: "These meetings were held behind closed doors and were organized by Australia,"
8:20 MP Dory Chamoun told VOL: I have never expressed optimism about cabinet formation. There is a plan to keep Lebanon without a government. They are depending on Aoun to implement the plan.
7:30 Iran edged toward a landmark agreement with the US and other powers that would curb its nuclear program, but it remained unclear whether Tehran's leadership would give the deal its final blessing.
Wednesday
10:20 pm Ban: We call on Lebanon and Syria to control the easily breached parts of their borders
10:16 pm Ban: Lebanese and non-Lebanese militia activities threaten Lebanon's stability
10:10pm Ban: Israeli non-withdrawal from Ghajar Village is a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and UN Security Council resolutions
9:54pm UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on UN Security Council Resolution 1559: Several clauses were not implemented by Israel and Hezbollah
