Syrian PM calls March 14 ‘cardboard box’

The March 14 alliance is a “cardboard box” and the Syrian regime does not take such branding seriously, Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari told the Kuwait newspaper Al-Rai in an interview set to be published on Saturday. (more…)

Hezbollah preparing to face STL indictment, report

All political and legal data clearly indicate that Hezbollah has finally recognized the inevitability of being indicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ( STL) in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and that all the pressures exerted by the party both internally and regionally have failed (more…)

Hoss rules out any Shiite-Sunni strife in Lebanon

Former Lebanese PM Salim el Hoss ruled out any Shiite- Sunni strife in Lebanon over the special Tribunal for Lebanon ( STL) indictment, saying the “Sunnis and Shiites are one people .. there never was and there will never be a strife between them.”

During an interview with Sada Al Balad that will be published on Saturday he said “the abolition of STL is impossible at this stage (more…)

Lebanon PM: New Israeli Citizenship Law ‘Racist’

Lebanon’s prime minister has condemned Israel’s new citizenship law as “racist,” comparing it to practices in apartheid-era South Africa.

Saad Hariri says the law would make ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians “unbearable” and warns it encourages extremism. He also urged the EU to persuade Israel not to apply it. (more…)

RWB:Lebanon has best press freedom in ME including Israel

Lebanon has the best press freedom in the Middle East including Israel, in spite of falling 17 spots in global standings, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) an international media watchdog reported on Wednesday. (more…)

Lebanon’s Pharmaceutical market to increase 50% by 2014

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c8aafb/lebanon_pharmaceut) has announced the addition of the “Lebanon Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q4 2010″ report to their offering. (more…)

Analysis: Persian Ambitions vs. Syrian Interests

Greater Persia may seem a dream to some, but in Iran it’s real enough, while in Syria they still believe in a Greater Syria!

Wahab renewed his call for Hariri to resign

Former minister Wiam Wahab renewed his call for Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign during an interview with LBCI television on Friday adding adding any Sunni official can replace him as a premier.

Wahab’s statement follows a report from Damascus published Wednesday by the pro-Syrian newspaper Al Akhbar which revealed that Syria (more…)

Viva Palestina convoy reaches Gaza

Pro-Palestinian activists in more than 100 cars and lorries have crossed into the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah crossing with aid worth nearly $5m.

The multinational “Viva Palestina” ship arrived at Egypt’s port city of al-Arish from Lattakia, Syria, earlier on Thursday. About 300 activists then flew into al-Arish airport and converged with the ship’s passengers before entering Gaza. (more…)

Hezbollah knew about Karam’s spying, report

Hezbollah knew that retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam, a senior Free Patriotic Movement official , was collaborating with Israel from the moment he was arrested last September, an Arab diplomat told Al-Balad newspaper in an interview published on Friday.

Karam who was still a key a FPM official at the time he was arrested , was charged with espionage and providing Israel with information on Hezbollah (more…)