36 of the 500 containers on the board of the ship were found to contain arms, according to Israeli officials
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The Israeli navy intercepted the vessel Tuesday night near Cyprus, roughly 100 miles off the Israeli coast.
Flying under an Antiguan flag, the ship, called the Francop, was carrying cargo loaded in Damietta, Egypt, and bound for Latakia in Syria, Israeli defense officials said. Documents found on board identified the cargo as originating in Iran according to Israeli officials
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, speaking from Tehran, denied that Iranian arms were bound for Syria and said "pirates" had disrupted legitimate trade between Syria and Iran, news services reported.
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Israeli officials offered no direct evidence that the supplies were bound for Hezbollah. They noted, however, that Iran is forbidden under a U.N. embargo to export arms. Iran is widely considered a major weapons supplier for Hezbollah and Hamas.
Israeli Rear Adm. Rani Ben-Yehuda, deputy head of the Israeli navy said the nature of the supplies, including thousands of shorter-range Katyusha rockets, supported the idea that the arms were not intended for the Syrian military or some other standing force.
"We know what Hezbollah uses and what ranges they need," he said
Thursday
11:59 pm AP: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pushed Mideast peace prospects into unknown territory Thursday, announcing he doesn't want another term and opening the way to a succession battle that could play into the hands of his rival, the militant Hamas.
11:30 pm At least 12 people were killed and 31 wounded Thursday afternoon in a shooting at a military installation in Fort Hood, Texas, according to military spokesmen.
11:00 pm The UN General Assembly approved on Thursday an Arab-backed resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report, paving the way for the matter to be sent to the Security Council
5: 30 pm AP: Israel's prime minister charged Thursday that Iran's goal was to kill as many civilians as possible by giving Hezbollah what the military said were enough weapons to extend any war against Israel for one month.
5;12 Aoun sources: Aoun may prefer the ministry of environment over the ministry of industry and this could be the solution to the impasse
5:00 pm President Michel Suleiman has reportedly said "everything is under control."
"Obstacles that continue to delay the birth of the government are not major after having overcome great difficulties," adding " the caretaker Cabinet continues to carry out its functions."
3:42 pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has informed the PLO executive committee that he will not be running for a second term because the peace process has reached a dead end
3:30pm PM-designate Hariri met with Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad al-Essiri to discuss the current political developments.
1:55 pm Bassil took disciplinary measures against the general manager and maintenance and investments in the telecom ministry Abdel Mouneim Youssef for violating the rules and regulations
1:10 pm MP Hamadeh from Bkirki: The issue of governmnt formation has reached the stage of take it or leave it
1:01pm Geagea from Bkirki: What Aoun said yesterday is totally unacceptable in both shape and form and the issue of the government formation is not a matter of one more or less cabinet posts ...Aoun just wants to be Lebanon's Napoleon
12:25pm Syrian President Bashar Assad: Syria is keen on Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence. We hope the national unity cabinet would be formed as soon as possible.
12:10pm LF leader Samir Geagea meeting with Sfeir in Bkirki.
11:52 Hezbollah: Ban’s report on 1701 was unjust against Lebanon and the resistance. It should have focused on Israeli aggressions that are causing tension in the region.
11:41 MP Alain Aoun: The cabinet could be formed this week.
11:35 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir met with MP Marwan Hamadeh and discussed with him latest developments.
11:34 Minister Elias Murr discussed with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams the latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701.
11:22 al-Hayat: Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh has reportedly announced his displeasure at MP Michel Aoun's latest stances from the government.Franjieh stopped efforts to mediate between Aoun and PM-designate Saad Hariri after he noticed a big change in the FPM leader's stances.
11:04 Speaker Nabih Berri postponed a parliamentary session for the election of committees to next Thursday.
10:15 VOL: One person was killed as 2 people on a motorbike stole the purse of Gretta George Abou Suleiman in Bourj Hammoud.
8:30 Hezbollah denied that arms seized by Israel from a ship were bound for the party and condemned what it called Israeli piracy
08: 00 A French Source told As Safir: "Michel Aoun was subjected to deceit by politicians throughout his political career. But since he has become one of them, he became the best in the sphere of the worst,"
07:45 Jumblatt visitors The ministerial statement was agreed upon and the statement on the resistance will not change from the Doha statement on the last Government
7:35 Secretary-General of the Christian-Islamic dialogue committee Hares Shehab told VOL: The campaign against Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir is not new. Bkirki is an essential part of Lebanese history.
07:09 Al Akhbar: Basil contacted yesterday evening the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and informed him officially that Aoun has rejected the last Hariri offer
Wednesday
5:05pm FPM leader MP Michel Aoun after the weekly meeting of Change and Reform bloc: We urge calm regarding the press reports about cabinet formation because they are untrue. He attacked Partriarch Sfeir saying he is protecting the corrupt and LF leader Samir Geagea , whom he called incomplete human
3:32pm Hajj Hassan says he is unaware of any Nasrallah-Bassil meeting on Tuesday
2:35pm PM-designate Hariri met with Spanish Ambassador Juan Carlos Gafo at Center House. The two men discussed developments and bilateral ties.
2:21pm March 14: The positions of Patriarch Sfeir and the Church express commitment to the fundamental principles of independence and statehood.
2:20pm March14 General Secretariat, following its weekly meeting, called for a speedy government formation for the sake of Lebanon’s integrity.
2:15pm Wafaa Mohammed Aoun, 35, died after falling from her fourth-floor apartment balcony in the port city of Tyre.
12:50pm A weekly meeting held every Wednesday in Parliament did not take place.
12:45pm Patriarch Sfeir received a letter from the Apostolic Nuncio. Content of the letter was not disclosed.
