Report: Hezbollah fighters attacked protesters in Iran

The London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported that Iran has recruited at least 1,500 Hizbullah fighters to protect the mullah regime. The Saudi-owned newspaper said Iran brought the Hizbullah officers from Lebanon to Teheran this month amid plans by the opposition to renew protests.

In a report on Feb. 21, A-Sharq Al Awsat said the Hizbullah fighters were deployed in plain clothes to patrol the streets of Teheran. The newspaper said Hizbullah was ordered to assault anti-government protests, particularly in the Iranian capital. (more…)

Suleiman: History never mentions the wars we avoided

“The unity that happened [today] in Rome should not be ad hoc or formal,” Sleiman added during a lunch organized by the Worldwide Maronite Foundation honoring him on Wednesday in Rome, according to a statement issued by President Michel Suleiman’s office.

“The priority of the Maronites and the Christians is to preserve Lebanon as an entity,” Sleiman said on Wednesday. (more…)

Lebanon’s agricultural exports grew 26% in 2010

The Lebanese Customs Office has revealed the latest data about Lebanon’s agricultural foreign trade in 2010. Exported volumes increased by 10.5%, for a total value of 194 million dollars, an upsurge by 26% over 2009. (more…)

Aoun is pushing Suleiman to resign Presidency says Geagea

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea ruled out the formation of a government soon and accused Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun of pushing President Michel Suleiman to resign.

Turning to Aoun’s latest campaign against the president and demands to get the interior ministry portfolio which was previously from Suleiman’s share in the government, the LF leader said the MP “was seeking to shorten the term of President Suleiman or push him towards resignation.” (more…)

Bahraini releases political prisoners amid protests

Bahraini opposition lawmakers say authorities have released 23 Shi’ite activists who had been on trial since October for plotting against the Gulf state’s minority Sunni rulers. (more…)

Gaddafi’s daughter-in-law aboard jet denied entry to Lebanon

The private Libyan jet that was prevented from landing at Beirut airport was carrying on board the Lebanese wife of one of Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi’s sons, Voice of Lebanon radio reported Wednesday. (more…)

Lebanese youth start revolt on Facebook

Protests sweeping the Middle East have given new impetus to Lebanese youths who have launched their own revolt on Facebook in a bid — albeit improbable — to bring down Lebanon’s confessional system. (more…)

IDEX weapons exhibit in Abu Dhabi as the Middle East erupts

Amid a bloodbath in Libya and the Arab world in turmoil amid much Western hand wringing about selling weapons to dictatorial Arab regimes, the world’s arms dealers are touting their wares at the Middle East’s biggest defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

The 10th International Defense Exhibition — IDEX 2011 — opened in the Persian Gulf state Sunday showcasing military equipment and services by more than 1,000 companies. (more…)

Jordan suspends electricity supply to Lebanon

Jordanian authorities have suspended power supply to Lebanon due to the disruption of regional gas pipelines, according to a statement issued Tuesday by Lebanon’s state-run power company, Electricity du Liban.

The shutdown, which is likely to worsen existing power shortages in Lebanon, comes as a result of the destruction of natural gas lines from Egypt which had helped fuel Jordan’s electricity production. (more…)

U.N. & U.S. provide timid responses to the tyrant Gaddafi

The UN security council has called for an immediate end to the violence in Libya and demanded that Muammar Gaddafi lives up to his responsibilities to protect his own people.

The Obama administration on Tuesday reiterated its condemnation of bloody clashes between protesters and those loyal to the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, but it stopped short of threatening concrete measures, like sanctions or a no-flight zone above Tripoli. (more…)