Hezbollah is trying to politicize Lebanon Tribunal, says Feltman

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman told Al-Arabiya TV on Tuesday that “Hezbollah is trying to politicize the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).”

Tension escalated in Lebanon after reports said that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will soon issue its indictment into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. (more…)

Soldiers killed by blast at Iranian military base

An explosion at an Iranian military training base that was apparently triggered when a munitions cache caught fire by accident killed and injured several servicemen on Tuesday, Iranian news agencies reported.

An Iranian official quoted by the Fars news agency said bodies were still being identified (more…)

Ahmadinejad arrives today in Beirut

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. on a two-day official visit .

Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to receive Ahmadinejad at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport. The Iranian president and Berri will then head to Baabda at 9:30 a.m. where Lebanese president Michel Suleiman will receive them. (more…)

Cabinet postpones discussions on false witnesses till Oct. 20

Information Minister Tarek Mitri briefed the media at the end of the cabinet meeting that was held at the Baabda palace and chaired by president Michel Suleiman

False witnesses issue
The Cabinet has decided to postpone the discussion of the “false witnesses” issue to October 20. (more…)

Visit is bad timing for Lebanon

Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad will savour every moment. Stung by opposition at home, where even his own fundamentalist friends now dislike him, he will be feted in Lebanon on Wednesday, a country where he can expect genuine welcome from at least part of the population. (more…)

Geagea: Hezbollah arms are biggest cause of unrest

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday said Hezbollah arms are “the biggest cause for strife.”

“They say that the issue of false witnesses will cause strife in Lebanon. No. You are a cause for unrest. Hezbollah weapons, to us, are the biggest cause for strife,” Geagea said at a press conference from Maarab. (more…)

Iran’s economy feels sting of sanctions

Iran’s economy is under increasing strain four months after the latest international sanctions against Tehran, say Iranian businessmen, traders and consumers, who describe spreading pain from inflation, joblessness and mounting shortages. (more…)

Lebanon arrests 4 more Israeli spies

Lebanon’s military intelligence agency said it arrested a Palestinian spy recruited by Israel, sources told as-Safir. (more…)

Lebanon eyeing an LNG pipeline

Beirut is preparing to invite companies to bid on a liquefied natural gas pipeline, the Lebanese Energy Ministry said.
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Moody’s outlines Lebanon strengths, challenges, report

Moody’s Investor Services recently released a credit opinion note on Lebanon in which it indicated that credit strengths for Lebanon include a robust level of external liquidity, a resilient bank deposit base, the government’s strong track record of debt servicing, and the country’s proven ability to mobilize donor support. (more…)