Iranian opposition clash with governmnt forces

Iranian opposition sources say government forces have clashed with anti-government demonstrators who gathered in the Iranian capital during a Shi’ite Muslim holiday.
Witnesses say some of the demonstrators have been beaten or arrested, and that riot police smashed the windows of passing cars.
Ashura ceremonies culminate Sunday.
During Ashura, Shi’ite worshipers mourn the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Lebanese army arrests 5 armed Palestinians in Baalbeck

The Lebanese army command issued a statement in which it stated that it raided a house in Baalbeck , arrested 5 Palestinians and confiscated arms, ammunition , money and electronic instruments and is currently interrogating them before handing them over to the judicial authorities

Shehayeb: Only 3 know what Syria wants from Jumblatt

Lebanon’s Minister of the Displaced Akram Shehayeb told Voice of Lebanon on Saturday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt immediately upon his return from Syria last Sunday and delivered a message from Syria. “No one knows the contents of the message except for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hariri and Jumblatt.”
There has been a lot of speculation especially in the pro-Syrian media in Lebanon about Syria’s demands before Jumblatt could be allowed back into Syria. Some of these demands are humiliating specially for Jumblatt who was one of key leaders of the Cedar revolution.

Wahab links Hezbollah arms to Palestinian naturalization

By: Sami Haddad
All along Hezbollah has been linking its arms to the liberation of Lebanese territories occupied by Israel namely Shebaa farms and Kfar Shouba hills

New TV: Sfeir is not opposed to visiting Syria

New TV has reported that Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has declared that in principal he has no objection against visiting Syria specially that it has a large Maronite community . Earlier Bishop Rai said Sfeir has not received any invitation to visit Syria

Aoude: Sectarianism is being used by sectarian leaders to serve their personal interests

Commenting on Speaker Berri’s call for formation of a committee to abolish political sectarianism in Lebanon Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Aoude said during his Christmas sermon mass in Saint George’s Cathedralon “Sectarianism is being used by sectarian leaders to serve their personal interests.”
He added that Lebanon is in dire need to abolish the political exploitation of sectarianism and should be raising the new generation that believes in serving their country instead of exploiting it.

Hezbollah chief: The US is anti-human and brutal

During a televised speech marking the eighth day of Ashura Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah attacked the US : ” The United States is anti-human and brutal, and is governed by the most brutal and greedy individual “he said in reference to President Barack Obama.
Commenting on the appeal by the Phalange party MPs before the constitutional council against article 6 of the ministerial policy statement Nasrallah said : “The Phalange is wasting its time and we are not wasting any night’s sleep over their appeal “. Article 6 legitimizes the role of the resistance.
Iran, which may be facing more sanctions by the US and its western allies because of its nuclear program is the main backer of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group

Suleiman in Paris next week to meet his French counterpart

Future TV has reported that Lebanese president Michel Suleiman will head to Paris next week to meet with French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Future did not mention whether Suleiman ’s visit to Paris has anything to do with his recent trip to Damascus. Lebanese PM Saad Hariri who visited Damascus last weekend has reportedly left last night to Paris on a private visit !

Iran aims to improve image in the Arab world

Senior Iranian leaders have been using the cover of the battle over its nuclear program to reach out to their many foes in the Middle East.
The foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, visited Lebanon earlier this week , and relations with Turkey have been improved. More dramatically the parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, met President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Cairo this week.
Egypt and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since 1980, after Egypt struck a peace deal with Israel, and Egypt accuses Iran of funding terrorist activity by Hezbollah on its soil.
According to Lebanese observers Mottaki’s visit to Lebanon was aimed at trying to convince Lebanese officials against voting for the new sanctions that are expected to be imposed by the western countries . Lebanon was elected recently as a non- permanent member of the UN security council

Source: telegraph.co.uk

U.S. condemns Taliban video of captive soldier

The U.S. has condemned a Taliban video of an American soldier captured by the militants in Afghanistan last June as an affront to his family at Christmas. BBC