Lebanon speaker writes to Chavez about Gaddafi’s crimes

Speaker Nabih Berri sent a letter to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez “explaining the crimes of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi that have trespassed the borders of his country.” (more…)

Libya revolt may solve mystery of Lebanese cleric’s fate

The crumbling of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime could shed light on one of the most enduring mysteries in Lebanon: the fate of Moussa al-Sadr, a popular Shiite cleric who vanished 33 years ago during a trip to Libya.

Since the uprising began, members of Libya’s opposition have broken a three-decade silence on the issue, with some saying the 82-year-old cleric is languishing in a Libyan prison. (more…)

Libyan official: Sadr was murdered during visit to Libya in 1978

A former Libyan envoy has said that Lebanese Shia leader Imam Moussa al-Sadr “was shot and killed during his visit to Libya in 1978.”

In an interview with Al-Hayat newspaper to be published on Wednesday, Major Abdel Meneem al-Houni, who has resigned from his post as Libya’s Arab League envoy, confirmed Sadr’s death.

Houni, who was also Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi’s ally during the country’s 1969 revolution, said that Sadr was buried in the Libyan region of Sebha. (more…)

Libya threatened to expel Lebanese expats if Beirut boycotts summit

Libya has reportedly threatened to expel Lebanese nationals if Beirut decided to boycott the Arab League summit in Tripoli, Al-Liwaa newspaper reported Tuesday. The paper said that the Libyan government is closely following up developments of the Lebanese stance regarding its participation in the Arab League summit scheduled to be held in Tripoli later this month. (more…)

Participation in Libya summit up to the president, cabinet says minister

Minister of State Adnan As-Sayyed Hussein, one of 3 ministers that represent the president in the cabinet told Voice of Lebanon that it is up to President Michel Suleiman and the cabinet to decide on the level of Lebanon’s participation in the Arab League Summit scheduled to take place in Libya on March 27-28.
“But we are committed to know the truth behind Imam Moussa Sadr’s disappearance,” he said, adding that such a demand is stipulated in the current Ministerial Statement.
His comment comes after Speaker Nabih Berri, along with other prominent Shiite officials , called on the Lebanese government to boycott the summit, accusing Libya of being behind the 1978 disappearance of Sadr, a Lebanese Shiite leader and founder of Amal Movement
Sayyed Hussein said that that the cabinet did not yet discuss the issue.

Lebanon will attend the Summit in Libya, says Moussa

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa met with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda palace : Following the meeting Moussa said that Lebanon will participate in March’s Arab League Summit in Libya, The National News Agency (NNA) reported
Moussa added that the level of Lebanon’s representation will depend on the internal Lebanese situation. “There is enough time to discuss the issue,” said Moussa.
“Lebanon’s participation in the upcoming Arab Summit is necessary, since it is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he added.
Moussa touched on the issue of the 1978 disappearance in Libya of Shiite leader Imam Moussa Sadr ( founder of the Amal movement ), saying that the issue, while very sensitive to some Lebanese, should not be discussed in the media.
Amal Movement leader , Speaker Nabih Berri, called for boycotting the summit saying that Libya remains responsible for Sadr’s disappearance.

Lebanon FM: 1.5 million expatriates registered to vote

Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Ali Al-Shami said “about one and a half million expatriate Lebanese are registered to vote . He said that he is working on setting up a technical committee to work out the logistics in order for them to participate in the Lebanese electoral process
Shami, in an interview with NBN TV talked about the controversial issue of Lebanese participation at the Arab summit in Libya and said “We are committed to the decision of the government authorities on this matter , but since we consider there has been a long delay in settling the case of Sayyed Moussa Al-Sadr , my own personal position is similar to that of speaker Nabih Berri if not exactly identical .
Both Speaker Berri and Deputy Head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan called for boycotting the summit in Libya.