Egypt agreed to allow 100 protesters into Gaza

Protest leaders stranded in Cairo accepted an Egyptian offer on Tuesday to allow only 100 out of about 1,300 protesters into blockaded Gaza after the activists staged demonstrations and a hunger strike.
The decision split delegates from more than 40 countries who came to Cairo planning to reach the Palestinian enclave, which shares the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Some organizers said Egypt’s offer was a victory after it initially refused to allow any of the protesters into the Gaza Strip for the Gaza Freedom March, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday.
“It’s a partial victory,” said Medea Benjamin, an American activist and one of the demonstrations organisers. “It shows that mass pressure has an effect.”

The Lebanese pound will be stable in 2010, banking system is safe

Riad Salameh , Central Bank Governor told OTV on Tuesday that Lebanon can take advantage of the increase in the price of gold, adding that the Lebanese currency will be stable in 2010 and that the country’s banking system is safe from any problems in the near future.
Salameh said the Central Bank achieved economic growth as a result of the Lebanese currency’s stability.

Geagea: Hezbollah’s obligations to Iran is damaging to Lebanon

In an interview with Russia Today satellite network, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said that the obligations of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah toward Iran and its Wilayat Al Faqih Rule may cause great damage to Lebanon, “given Iran’s vision of the clash with the world in general, and the conflict in the region in specific.”
Geagea said that the last speech of Nasrallah was not addressed against him in person or against the LF in specific, but against all the Christians.
“The issue in Lebanon is neither inter-Christian nor Muslim-Christian, but a general national cause,” added Geagea.

Aridi visited Syria to explain Jumblatt’s stance

OTV has reported that Minister of Public works Ghazi Aridi made a brief visit to Syria today in order to explain MP Walid Jumblatt’s stand.

In a related development Jumblatt , who is still in Cyprus told LBC that his visit to Limassol has no relationship with his planned visit to Syria.

Yemen says may harbor up to 300 Qaeda suspects

Yemen’s Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said on Tuesday there could be up to 300 al Qaeda militants in his country, some of whom may be planning attacks on Western targets. Reuters

Filipina housekeeper was found dead at Lebanese ambassador’s residence in Vienna

The body of a 30-year-old Filipina housekeeper was found on Tuesday in the cellar of the Lebanese ambassador’s residence in the Austrian capital, police said. The ambassador, Izhaya al-Khoury, was out of the country, police added
The body which was found by the cook had several stab wounds, according to police in Vienna. The cook was the only person present at the ambassador’s residence
Lebanese authorities, which alerted the police, were cooperating with the investigation and allowed Austrian police officers free access to the scene.

Bkirki: Nasrallah speech a threat to the existence of Christians

Bkirki visitors have considered Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on Sunday as a threat to the existence of Christians in the country despite an understanding between the Shiite group and the Free Patriotic Movement.
“This direct threat to the Christians takes us back to the era of polarization that was overcome after the formation of the national unity government and the establishment of (state-to-state) ties between Lebanon and Syria,” the visitors told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.

Army questioning 2 Lebanese who crossed border from Israel

The National News Agency said the International Red Cross handed over to the Lebanese army Lebanese citizens Nadim Abu Rafeh and Khalil Hanna Abu Hamad after crossing the border from Israel in the Ras Naqoura area . The army is now questioning them
Both are reportedly South Lebanon Army members who escaped to Israel following its withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000.

Iran’s speaker urges Harshest punishment protesters with no mercy

Iran’s influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani said Tuesday that authorities should mete out “the harshest punishment” to protesters who disrupted Ashura observances.
Addressing lawmakers, Larijani said the protesters had insulted Imam Hussein, whose death is commemorated during the religious observance.
He urged officials to “arrest offenders of the religion and mete out harshest punishments to such anti-revolutionary figures with no mercy.” CNN

Iran summons its U.K. ambassador over deadly protests

Iran accused Western countries of inciting the biggest opposition protests in six months, and said it’s summoning the U.K. ambassador to protest the interference.
“Some countries have preferred supporting rioters to cooperating” with Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said today, according to the state-run Mehr news agency. He added that the U.K. ambassador would be summoned to the foreign ministry in the capital Tehran.
At least eight opposition supporters were killed in clashes with security forces in Tehran and other cities two days ago, state media said. It was the worst violence since mass demonstrations in the aftermath of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed June re-election.Bloomberg