Israel backs down on Hamas prisoner swap

Israel refuses to release 40 Palestinians whom the Islamic Hamas movement demands for freedom in a prisoner exchange deal a well-informed Palestinian source said on Tuesday. The Israeli reservations on the 40 names delayed the prisoner swap deal, which German and Egyptian mediators have tried to broker

Tunnel discovered near Syrian border

A 15 meter  long tunnel with 50 to 75 cm opening was discovered in the town of Rashaya el Wadi in the South Bekaa by the workers during the excavations

Reuters Pictures of the Decade

A Lebanese girl looks through the window of a bus carrying women to visit the grave of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut’s Martyrs square March 20, 2005.

Reuters Pictures of the Decade

A Lebanese man shouts for help for a wounded man near the site of a car bomb explosion in Beirut February 14, 2005. A massive car bomb killed Lebanon’s former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri along with 21 others.

MP Saqr: March 14 will remain united

MP Oqab Saqr:  March 14 is a Muslim – Christian alliance  and will remain united

Prisoner exchange negotiations underway in Syria

Al Arabiya : A Palestinian delegation involved in the negotiations in Cairo to free abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit arrived in Damascus to discuss finalizing the deal with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshal.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday warned Lebanon that it, not Hezbollah, would be the target of retaliatory attacks should the militant group escalate tension along Israel’s northern border.

MP Jumblatt said after meeting with Speaker Berri : We confirm that e are sticking with the former ministerial policy statement as far as the international resolutions and we reserve our right for self defense .  Other disputed  issues should be discussed during dialogue talks as we have agreed .  Whoever has reservations , let him have his reservations

Health Minister Khalifeh says 80 percent of flu patients in Lebanon were diagnosed with swine flu

Al Manar TV: MPs Michel Aoun and Suleiman Franjieh will meet tonight in Rabieh to restore order within  both parties.