Reporter for Lebanese daily As-Safir detained in Syria

A Syria correspondent for Lebanese daily As-Safir, considered supportive of Bashar al-Assad’s regime was detained in Damascus, an editor at the newspaper told AFP on Wednesday.

“We lost contact with our correspondent Mohammed Dahnoun yesterday (more…)

Analysis: Obstacles abound for peace in Syria

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad signed an Arab League peace initiative this week, admitting outside observers to his country even as his forces killed as many as 200 people in two of the deadliest days

Arab team in Syria Thursday to prepare for monitors

An advanced team preparing the way for peace monitors will arrive in Syria this week, the Arab League chief said on Tuesday, after more than 100 people were killed in one of the bloodiest days of a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. (more…)

Future bloc backs call for arms-free Beirut

Following its weekly meeting on Tuesday the Future Movement bloc condemned in a statement the recent clashes that erupted in Beirut, saying that the incidents are a constant reminder to the Lebanese people of the danger of the continued presence of armed groups in the capital. (more…)

Aoun defends the Orthodox gathering electoral proposal

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun defended after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting the Orthodox gathering electoral proposal stressing and expressed hope that the political parties will give the proposal a chance to be adopted in the 2013 parliamentary elections. (more…)

Hezbollah denies role in $300 million laundering scheme

Lebanon’s Hezbollah is denying US allegations of involvement in a $300 million laundering scheme and drugs trafficking, with its deputy leader claiming in comments published Tuesday the charges were false and that America was “not fooling anyone” with accusations meant to harm his anti-Israeli group. (more…)

GCC tells Iran to ‘stop meddling in its internal affairs

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council called on arch rival Iran on Tuesday to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the group’s members.

“Stop these policies and practices … and stop interfering in the internal affairs” of the Gulf nations, said a statement released at the end of the GCC annual summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh. (more…)

US journalist found dead in Sannine mountain

John Redwine, a 33 year old American citizen from Sioux Falls (Iowa), was found dead in a hole in Sannine Mountain, Northern Beirut.

He was reported as “missing” over the weekend, and an American Embassy team joined the Lebanese military in their search efforts. Approximately 100 personnel from both the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) participated in the search operation. (more…)

Syria: Over 110 killed in deadliest day of violence

Syria has announced it will execute “terrorists” and anyone who distributes weapons, just a day after Damascus publicly committed to an Arab League peace plan – a move that analysts and the opposition say is a stalling tactic. (more…)

Jumblatt: Getting rid of Saddam, was best US achievement in Iraq

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt wrote in his column in the Al-Anbaa newspaper on Tuesday that although the US invasion of Iraq inflicted human and economic losses it got rid of the fascist and despotic regime of Saddam Hussein. (more…)