Freeing the Estonians: The French did it

There is always a hero behind behind the freeing of any hostages and in the case of the seven Estonian tourists it was a  French general specialized in anti-terror operations that  headed the team that won their  release after 113 days of abduction Ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Sunday. (more…)

Another huge fire involving plastics in Lebanon

A huge fire erupted at a large plastics warehouse in the Beirut southern suburb of Ouzai, but the Lebanese civil defense team was able to extinguish it and investigation has started to determine the cause of the fire. (more…)

Iraq: Nafisi urges learning the history of countries in turmoil

“Who talks about Iraq these days? If you go back to 2003, everywhere you looked, everywhere you went, there was Iraq. But Iraq was not represented… It was mainly known in terms of Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction.”

Suleiman: Lebanese tired of disputes, calls fo dialogue

President Michel Suleiman said on Saturday night during a dinner that he hosted at his residence in Amchit in honor of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai that stability in Lebanon requires “a political will” from its parties. (more…)

Arslan, Jumblatt met in Mukhtara, report

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblad held talks with Lebanese Democratic Party leader , MP Talal Arslan at his mansion in Mukhtara, Shouf region in the presence of Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi, National News Agency reported on Saturday. (more…)

Mikati: There is national consensus on UNIFIL and its mission

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati visited south Lebanon for the first time since his cabinet secured the vote of confidence to meet with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) command in a show of support to the UN peacekeeping forces. (more…)

Kidnapped Estonians held in Lebanon, Syria report

The seven Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon in March were held in three different locations in Lebanon and Syria, the former captives said on their return to Estonia, according to the Baltic News Service. (more…)

Iran-Syria Aid Could Be In The Billions, report

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backs offering $5.8 billion in aid to Syria to bolster its economy, a French newspaper said Friday, citing a report by a Tehran think-tank linked to Iran’s leadership. (more…)

US envoy insisted he will continue to travel throughout Syria

The US Ambassador to Syria, Robert S. Ford, insisted he will continue to travel throughout the country and meet Syrians, and predicted that if the Syrian regime does not quickly address local protesters’ demands for reform “the street will wash them away,” adding that most of the regime’s current reform promises have been “irrelevant.” (more…)

Aoun failed to secure the post of top security chief to the Maronites

Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun has reportedly failed in returning the post of director-general of the General Security Department to the Maronite sect according to media report.

Aoun reportedly faced strong objections from his own allies Hezbollah and Amal who insisted that he should be Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim a Shiite. (more…)