Aoun: I won’t let president Suleiman have any ministry

FPM leader MP Michel Aoun said in an interview on OTV that his parliamentary Change and reform bloc represents 40 % of the new majority and for this reason he wants 13 cabinet portfolios out of the proposed 30 in the new cabinet .

“We want proportional representation in cabinet”, he stressed (more…)

Wikileaks: Hezbollah trained Bahrainis in Lebanon

King Hamad of Bahrain reportedly said in July 2008 that Bahrainis were receiving training from Hezbollah in Lebanon according to a cable released by Wikleaks and published in The Guardian newspaper . (more…)

Bahrain protesers calling for overthrow of ruling family

Thousands of people had gathered Wednesday for a peaceful funeral procession for a Bahraini man killed when clashes erupted during another protester’s funeral procession, the president of a human rights group said. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said those involved in the deaths of two people during recent protests are in custody. (more…)

Netanyahu tells Hezbollah chief: Stay in your bunker

Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech at the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations gathering in Jerusalem. (more…)

Tribunal judges clarify legal ground rules, define terrorism

The president of the U.N.-backed court prosecuting the killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has laid down key legal ground rules for future trials, including a definition of terrorism.

Italian Judge Antonio Cassese says the court should use a “more extensive” definition of terrorism than the one found in Lebanese law that the tribunal is mandated to apply. (more…)

Future movement awaits clear answers from Mikati, report

The Future Movement bloc issued a statement on Tuesday in which it called for “clear and honest” answers from Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, regarding his stance on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and the use of illegal weapons in the country. In reference to the arms of Hezbollah and the Syrian backed Palestinian militant factions outside the camps (more…)

EU:Lebanon must cooperate with Hariri Tribunal

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said on Wednesday a new Lebanese government must abide by commitments to cooperate with a tribunal investigating the 2005 killing of statesman Rafik al-Hariri. (more…)

Protests spread to Libya

Unprecedented demonstrations sweeping the Middle East and North Africa spread Wednesday to Libya, where police clashed with anti-government protesters in the coastal city of Benghazi, an independent source told CNN. (more…)

Israel:Iran warships to transit Suez for Syria

Two Iranian warships planned to sail through the Suez canal en route to Syria on Wednesday, Israel said, calling it a “provocation” by the Islamic Republic. (more…)

crude oil rallies on Israel comments on Iranian warships

U.S. crude oil futures prices bounced back to $85 a barrel on Wednesday in volatile trading after Israel’s foreign minister hinted at a response to Iran sending warships through the Suez Canal en route to Syria. (more…)