Minister Nahas accused of corruption

During a press conference on Friday March 14 MP Ghazi Youssef accused Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas of using the ministry funds illegally.

Youssef revealed to the media that Nahhas instructed both Fransabank and Bank Audi – Saradar to issue checks amounting to $300,000 in the name of his personal adviser Moussa Khoury . (more…)

Russian MiG-31 pilots eject before crash

Two pilots ejected safely from a Russian MiG-31 Firefox aircraft before it crashed Friday in the Perm region of the Ural Mountains, security officials said.

An official said the interceptor-fighter craft “was not carrying any weapons” and didn’t pose a threat to residents, RIA Novosti reported.

Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik said the pilots were “in a satisfactory condition.”

A special commission will investigate the cause of the crash, officials said. UPI

5 Palestinians injured in 3 Israeli raids on Gaza

Israeli warplanes conducted three raids against the Gaza Strip Friday, wounding five Palestinians, witnesses and medical sources said. (more…)

Abbas rejects US military link to peace process

During an interview with the London based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has spoken against the US military help to Israel in exchange for a moratorium on the construction of Jewish settlements on West Bank of the Jordan River.

” Let their aid be carried out far removed from the Palestinian peace negotiations and not be used as a pretext for giving more weaponry to Israel,” Abbas said. (more…)

Murr: Sacrifice is less costly than strife

Lebanon Defense Minister Elias Murr reiterated on Friday Army Commander Jean Kahwaji’s statement to the army that political disputes are part of the democratic process but this does not mean that they should be transformed into strife that threatens the lives of citizens.” (more…)

Saudi-Syrian efforts may help resolve Lebanon tension, report

Saudi-Syrian efforts to resolve Lebanese tensions have reached an advanced stage and a Saudi official will be in Damascus within hours to meet with Syrian president Bashar al Assad to finalize the plan for establishing calm and stability in Lebanon, according to Lebanon Files . (more…)

UN: Hezbollah smuggling arms to south of the Litani river

Michael Williams, UN special coordinator for Lebanon, said that Hezbollah militia is smuggling large amounts of weaponry to south of the Litani river and stocking them there and warned ” this is a violation of UN resolution 1701″ (more…)

Kahwaji: Security is every citizens’ holy right

Lebanon Army chief Jean Kahwaji stressed on Thursday that political disputes are part of democratic life but should not be transformed into strife that threatens the lives of citizens.”

In address to soldiers on the occasion of 67 th Lebanese Independence anniversary Kahwaji said : “Political disputes should be resolved through political means, ” and added “Security is every citizens’ holy right and it is your duty to preserve it.” (more…)

Saudi king transfers National Guard duties to son

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah stepped down Wednesday as head of the country’s National Guard and transferred the influential position to his son, in an apparent sign that the elderly monarch is beginning to lessen some of his duties.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that Abdullah named Prince Mitab bin Abdullah as commander of the Guard. King Abdullah had headed the force since 1962. (more…)

Syria: Crackdown on Christians is causing jitters

SECULAR Syria has long been one of the freest places in the Middle East to practice religion. But a recent crackdown on Christians, about a tenth of Syria’s people, is causing jitters. (more…)