demanding to open an investigation into what it called 'serious irregularities ' that the Egyptian investigation has revealed, most significant of all is Lebanese authorities' 'conspiracy' in facilitating the work of the Hezbollah cell.
Hezbollah detainee Mohammed Youssef Mansour, known as Sami Shehab, has reportedly entered Egypt several times on a forged passport under the name of Salim Bassem Sami Hashem. The fake passport reportedly has the real picture of Mansour, an indication that an official Lebanese authority or a person working for that authority has facilitated access to the passport.
The other issue that aroused suspicion in the Egyptian minds is a document that was legalized by the Ministry of Foreign affairs ( headed by Fawzi Salloukh ), based on a petition by Walid Shehab in his capacity as the Sami Shehab 's brother, but Sami denied having a brother under such a name.
Lebanese Minister of Justice Ibrahim Najjar told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper today in reference to the Hezbollah cell in Egypt and the problems that this could cause to the Egyptian-Lebanese relations: “it is clear that Lebanon will not allow this problem to disturb the relations between Lebanon and Egypt.”
Tuesday
21;20 Obama plans on inviting Israeli PM Netanyahu, Palestnian president Abbas and Egyptian president Mubarak to Washington and will meet each on individual basis
20:54 Internal security Forces reported that 5 were wounded in the Ashrafiyeh ( Beirut) 1 , Zahiriyeh (Tripoli) 1 and Tahweetat al Ghadeer ( Al Dhahiyeh , south of Beirut) 3. All the clashes are personal , no political implications
20:02 PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt to hold a press conference Wednesday, expected to explain content of video recording in which he verbally attacks allies
20.11 Al-Manar reports security forces arrested 2 in Bekaa suspected of involvement in Al-Mawarid Bank and jewelry store robberies.
20:10 Obama : we reject the racist statements of Ahmadinejad , but we are continuing with our diplomatic effort
19:55 LBC : Clash in Tripoli between youngsters of Jabal Muhsin and Bab al Tabbaneh . The army intervened to control the situation
19:33 MP Michel Murr: MP Michel Aoun is contradicting himself . He is calling for reducing voting age to 18 and yet he is attacking the candidacy of Nayla Tueni and Nadim Gemayel. He said Nayla is the daughter of Ashrafiyeh and people will vote for her not only because she is the daughter of Gibran Tueni , but because they believe in the principles she represents and what she stands for
19:16 Jordanian king Abdullah , who is currently in Washington to meet president Obama accused Iran of trying to kidnap the Palestinian cause and of destroying Lebanon. He also attacked Israel for committing crimes during its recent offensive in Gaza
18:20 Nayla Tueni launched her election campaign : I am a candidate , because I believe in Lebanon ..I am Candidate to stay loyal to the dreams of Gibran Tueni ( her father ) . Yes I am for dialogue , yes I am for a strong state and as the only entity allowed to carry arms, but no I am against what happened on May 7
17:55 VOL: A man was wounded when assailants started shooting near Le Gabriel Hotel in Ashrafiyeh where candidate Nayla Tueni was expected to launch her election campaign
17:25 Former president and Phalange leader Amin Gemayel announced the names of their candidates : Nadim Gemayel in Beirut 1, Elie Marouni in Zahle, Samer Saadeh in Tripoli, Fadi al-Habr in Aley, Sajaan Qazi in Kesrouan, Sami Gemayel in Metn, Elie Karameh in Metn and Saadallah Ardo in Baalbeck-Hermel.
17:17 Amin Gemayel: The Cedar Revolution is not the end. It is the beginning of a journey to build a democratic, just and all-inclusive state. The Phalange will continue on the path of sacrifice and will lead the electoral battle fully confident that the Lebanese people will give it a vote of confidence.
17:17 Cairo summons the head of the office handling the Iranian affairs in Egypt ( Hussein Ragbi) to protest against his statements regarding the Hezbollah cell that was discovered in Egypt
16:50 Hariri announced "Akkar Future" electoral list: Hadi Hubeish- Maronite, Riad Rahhal and Nidal Tohmeh - Greek Orthodox, Naim Mereibeh, Khaled al-Daher, Khaled Zahrman - Sunnies and Khodr Habib- Alawites.
16:42 MP MP Saad Hariri from Akkar: I tell you with all honesty that they are trying to kill the legacy of the martyr Hariri through the voting ballots.
When they murdered Rafik Hariri you were the first to realize that the real target was Lebanon. They wanted to murder coexistence, unity, the economy, development and the Taef in order to enter Lebanon. Alluding to the Syrian guardianship. He added : "I am prepared to walk in the footsteps of Rafik Hariri for the sake of Lebanon."
16:30 French Foreign Ministry: we were notified about the arrest of Saddiq in Sharjah, UAE, but France is no longer responsible about him because he has already left the country on his own
15:00 National Liberal Party leader Dory Chamoun toured towns in the Shouf Mountains and met the region’s officials as well as mayors and heads of municipalities.
14:20 Catholic Press Center responded to remarks made by MP Walid Jumblat: His statements are false, unjustified accusations and pose a challenge to the fundamental principle of the historic (Christian-Druze) Mountain reconciliation.
14:14 MP Saad Hariri: Some infiltrated Akkar to instigate clashes between Future Movement and Arabs
13:47 Five gunmen robbed Al Mawarid Bank branch in Chtaura.
13:40 Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Shibani told al-Alam Iranian TV: Tehran-Beirut partnership remains. Accused March 14 as being biased and defended Iran's support for Hezbollah
13:20 Shooting in Tripoli and blockage of roads in Akkar after excluding Mohammed Suleiman from March 14 forces’ electoral list.
12:42 MP Qassem Hashem said to NBN TV: We will support Arslan’s candidate in Hasbaya. He also said : It is in the best interest of Lebanon that Lebanon and Syria have good bilateral relations.
12:40 Administrative Development Minister Ibrahim Shamseddine told OTV: The Doha agreement was made under exceptional circumstances; it has a beginning and should come to an end on June 7th and insisted that “the Taif Accord was Lebanon’s constitution.”
12:10 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea discussed electoral developments with Phalange parliamentary candidate Sami Gemayel.
12:05 Parliament Speaker Berri adjourned the parliamentary session to May 7th due to lack of quorum. The session had only adopted one proposal related to the heads of polling stations, before Berri adjourned it.
12:00 President Michel Suleiman held a round of bilateral talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul following his arrival to Ankara.
11:30 MP Akram Shouhayeb questioned the need for maintaining the Higher Lebanese-Syrian Council in light of the existing normal bilateral diplomatic relations and diplomatic norms and laws.
11:20 March 14 electoral lists for Akkar, Tripoli and Minieh districts have been reportedly finalized and will soon be announced.
Akkar reportedly includes: Sunnis: Khaled Daher, Mohammed Suleiman and Khaled Zahrman. Greek Orthodox: Riad Rahhal and Nidal Tohmeh. Maronites: Hadi Hubeish. Alawites: Khodr Habib.
Tripoli reportedly includes former Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Minister Mohammed Safadi.
Dinniyeh-Minieh reportedly includes MPs Ahmed Fatfat and Qassem Abdul Aziz from Dinniyeh and Bassam Ramlawi from Minieh.
11:15 Jama’a Islamiya’s Politburo head Ali al-Sheikh Amar told LBC TV: Dialogue with the al-Mustaqbal movement is ongoing, however, the trend for the Jama’a is to run individually..
11:08 Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper: “it is clear that Lebanon will not to allow this problem to disturb the relations between Lebanon and Egypt.” Was referring to the Hezbollah cell in Egypt
11:05 parliamentary quorum complete, allowing parliament to hold a legislative session.
11:02 Abu Faour: Replaced MPs in upcoming elections refuse to attend parliamentary sessions
10:44 MP Hassan Yaacoub told Future News: No dispute between Berri and Aoun over seat in Baabda district
8:42 MP Farid Habib told VOL : The Lebanese Forces has announced its candidates in agreement with March 14 Forces, the withdrawal of any candidate is to occur in agreement with March 14; legislative sessions are underestimating people’s intelligence.
8:40 President Michel Suleiman left for Turkey on a two-day official visit.
Monday
23:23 Former MPs Farid Haikal el-Khazen and Mansour el-Bon on Monday announced the formation of Kesrouan's core election ticket under the title "The Independent Decision of Kesrouan." Khazen said that the group is "independent at the national level." "We are outside the political alignment that has brought destruction to the country," he stressed
23:10 OTV: UAE informed Lebanon of Mohammed Zuheir Siddiq's arrest, a key Hariri murder witness. He was carrying a difference passport under and assumed a different name. Lebanon so far did not make any extradition request
23: 00 Ya Libnan: Lebanon executive committee of the Social Democrat Hunchak Party , informed Ya Libnan that its candidate for Beirut Second Electoral district in the June 7 parliamentary election is Sebouh Kalpakian
22:55 : Minister Abu Faour told MP Saad Hariri on behalf MP Walid Jumblatt : "We are proud of our partnership with you Sheikh Saad "
22:50 The claim made by FPM MP Nabil Nicolas at ANB TV regarding Abu Jawdeh Family outraged the members of the family . Nicolas claimed that all the votes of Abu Jawdeh Family are in the pocket of FPM's Change and Reform electoral list which prompted the family to denounce his statement as lies and fabrications
22:43 Iraqi PM Maliki : We reject the return of the Baath to politics. We don’t miss the massacres
22:24 Sudanese president Bashir lands in Ethipia in defiance of the International court arrest warrant
22:20 Former Iraqi PM Ibrahim al Jaafari arrived in Beirut accompanied by a delegation on an official visit during which he is expected to meet several Lebanese key officials to discuss Iraqi Lebanese relations . The Iraqi ambassador in Beirut Omar Barzanji along with other embassy officials met the Iraqi delegation at the Beirut airport
22:10 Washington : we fully support free elections . There are some militia in Lebanon that are still carrying and smuggling arms
21:45 President Suleiman will head to Turkey tomorrow on a 2 day official visit
21:30 Human Rights watch calls on Hamas to stop its liquidation against the Palestinians
21:16 Washington : "The speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was vile and fed racial hatred"
17:10 Hariri announced the members of the “Dignity” electoral list in West Bekaa and Rashaya: Robert Ghanem, Wael Abu Faour, Amin Wehbe, Antoine Saad, Jamal al-Jarrah and Ziad al-Qadry. He told his supporters : "They want to restore a regime of tutelage" in reference to the Hezbollah led opposition and its alliance with Syria
16:52 MP Michel Aoun following the weekly meeting of his parliamentary bloc: We are hoping that witness Zuhair al-Siddiq will be questioned according to Lebanese law considering how he was behind the detention of the four generals. Dr . Joseph Shahda is FPM's candidate in Akkar. Jumblatt must apologize to his allies
16:00 Aoun postponed announcing his party’s electoral lists in some districts from Tuesday until the end of this week
15:00 Former MP Emile Lahoud jr ( son of former president Emile Lahoud) announced he will drop out of the electoral race, following a meeting with a delegation from the Change and Reform bloc.
13:52 Pakradonian - The electoral list for the opposition in Metn electoral district has been finalized and Aoun will announce it shortly
14:44 MP Saad Hariri arrived in the Western Bekaa.
13:48 Jumblatt lauded the efforts of security forces particularly the intelligence branch, which uncovered the spy network, in his weekly editorial for his PSP mouthpiece al-Anbaa.
12:30 Opposition announced their electoral list in Koura. The list includes: Fayez Ghosn, Salim Saadeh and George Atallah.
14:30 FPM leader MP Michel Aoun will announce Tuesday at 11:30 am the opposition's electoral lists for Metn and Jubeil.
12:20 Minister Wael Abou Faour delivered a message to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir from PSP leader Walid Jumblatt, stressing on reconciliation.