Aoun: Lebanon needs Hezbollah to survive

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Sunday that Lebanon’s future is “closely linked to the Resistance and the powers that are confronting Israel’s policies.”

He told al-Nour radio: “We cannot survive as a nation without these powers and without the Resistance’s support.”

“Lebanon’s future is related to the Resistance…because Israel is an aggressive state that only wants to control and expand,” he added. (more…)

Hariri: Hezbollah ordered media to fabricate lies against my family

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri accused on Saturday Hizbullah and its chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah of launching campaigns against him.

Hariri’s press office issued a statement saying that “some media campaigns against him are ongoing attempts aimed at attacking everything related to ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, his family, and political and national approach.” (more…)

Army storms towns, arrests thousands in Syria

The Syrian army Sunday took control of several neighborhoods in Homs, the scene of deadly violence last week, while security forces conducted a spate of arrests in Damascus.

More than 50 people have been killed in the past week in Homs, 160 kilometers north of Damascus, either by army gunfire or in clashes between rival groups of demonstrators, rights activists have said. (more…)

Jumblatt: Syrian regime must be punished for violence against protesters

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said on Sunday that “Syria is a wounded country and will only be healed when the people responsible for the crimes against the Syrian people are punished.” He demanded that all political prisoners be released and that hostilities against protestors be halted. (more…)

Slogan of March 14 meeting at Bristol will be ‘Justice for Stability’

March 14 sources told An Nahar daily that the meeting, which will be held at the Bristol hotel in Beirut on Tuesday evening, will stress the need to remain committed to the international tribunal and continue funding it and for this reason its slogan will be “Justice for Stability.” (more…)

Hezbollah MP attacks STL, says won’t force resistance to surrender

Hezbollah MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi said on Saturday that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was formed to damage the resistance’s image, National News Agency reported.

The NNA quoted the MP as saying that “the international tribunal, accusations and the slogans will not force the resistance to surrender.” (more…)

Hezbollah rules out discussion of its arms during dialogue talks

Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Saturday that his party is ready to engage in dialogue to draft a national defense strategy, but ruled out any discussions over Hezbollah’s arms.

“We are ready to discuss a national defense strategy… but not to talk about the arms of the Resistance that is an honor for everyone,” a statement issued by Hezbollah quoted him as saying. (more…)

Syrian troops enter Edleb villiages near Turkish borders

Syrian troops backed by tanks entered villages in the Jebel az-Zawiya district of the northwestern province of Edleb near the Turkish border, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP on Saturday. (more…)

Iranian scientist assassinated in Tehran, media reports say

Assailants on a motorcycle assassinated an Iranian physicist Saturday in front of his home in Tehran, Iranian media reports said, in a killing that bore similarities to other slayings of scientists involved in the country’s nuclear work in recent years. (more…)

Gemayel questions the merit of dialogue talks

Former Lebanese president and current Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel questioned the merit of re-launching the national dialogue sessions when some categorize the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) as a tool of “ruling and vengeance,” according to a statement issued by his press office on Saturday. (more…)