STL will collapse without Lebanon funding, says Wahab

Former minister Wiam Wahhab said Friday during a speech that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will collapse if the Lebanese government withdraws its funding, according to National News Agency (NNA).

Wahab added that the government must defuse impending strife for the sake of Lebanon’s people. (more…)

Lebanon arrests 4 over deadly Beirut clash

Lebanese authorities have arrested four suspects in this week’s deadly Beirut street battle between the Iranian backed Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group and a pro-Syrian small Sunni group, the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash. (more…)

Amal MP: Arms free Beirut is not possible

Amal Movement MP Qassem Hashem called for finding out who was the third party that was involved in Tuesday’s Borj Abi Haidar clashes, according to New TV . (more…)

3 killed, dozens injured in Quake in northern Iran

At least three people were killed and dozens injured by an earthquake that jolted northern Iran, state radio reported today.

The quake, which the seismological centre said had a magnitude of 5.9, struck Semnan province last night and was followed by 15 aftershocks. The US Geological Survey said it measured 5.7. (more…)

UN: It is important to arm the Lebanese army

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams was quoted by As-Safir newspaper as saying that improved Lebanese-Syrian relations will play a part in border demarcation between the two countries.

Commenting on arming the Lebanese army he said :

“It is very important to arm the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) (more…)

Hezbollah MP rejects idea of ‘arms free Beirut’

Hezbollah MP Walid Sukarieh questioned Saturday the demand that Beirut be stripped of weapons.

He justified the presence of Hezbollah arms in the city by saying: “War with Israel is not restricted to the South, but it encompasses the whole of Lebanon, so what would stop Israel from making a landing in Beirut or the Bekaa or any other region?” (more…)

US lawmaker warns France not to arm Lebanon army

A U.S. lawmaker on Friday warned France not to sell anti-tank missiles to Lebanon, saying they could end up being used against Israel amid pro-Iranian influence in the Lebanese government.

U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, (more…)

Iran ready to supply Lebanon with arms, says envoy

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Abadi said Iran is ready to provide Lebanon with weapons, an issue that he discussed with President Michel Suleiman and Defense Minister Elias Murr.

Abadi told the An Nahar newspaper Saturday: “We are prepared to answer President Suleiman’s call to arm the Lebanese army, (more…)

French FM: Battle for justice is dangerous, but necessary for peace

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stressed on Friday during his remarks about the special tribunal for Lebanon the importance of international justice .

He said: “The battle for international justice is fraught with dangers as is the case in Lebanon, Sudan, and the Congo, but searching for the truth is necessary in order to achieve permanent peace.” (more…)

Lebanon PM: The state should not be a spectator

Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during an Iftar in Qoreitem on Friday: “It is unacceptable for the state to watch weapons proliferate throughout Lebanon, ” according to a statement from his office. (more…)