Explosion in South Lebanon injures French UNIFIL soldiers

Six French soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were wounded in a blast targeting two vehicles belonging to the French Battalion in the southern coastal city of Sidon. According to a witness, the bomb was planted on the side of the road and detonated by remote control. (more…)

Berri: Sidon will remain an example of Islamic-Christian coexistence

Pamphlets were distributed in East Saida and nearby villages overnight warning the area’s Christian residents to evacuate their homes and leave the area within a week, LBCI reported on Sunday.

Prominent Saida figures condemned the pamphlets, calling on authorities to find out who is behind the pamphlets and to punish them, the report added (more…)

Municipal election: March 14 declares victory in Sidon

In Sidon the electoral list backed by Future Movement has reportedly won 10484 votes while the competing list that is backed By Hezbollah’s ally Osama Saad reportedly won 4096 , based on preliminary results . (more…)

Municipal election: Voter turnout in south Lebanon

New TV reported that as of 6:30 PM the overall voter turnout in Jezzine district reached 39 % while in the city of Jezzine city it reached 59 % . The overall voter turnout in Sidon district reached 45 % while in the city of Sidon it is over 50%. (more…)

Municipal election: Voter turnout in Sidon reached 50%

Voice of Lebanon Radio station reported at 6 pm that voter turnout in Sidon has exceeded 50 percent.

Former PM and Sidon PM Fouad Siniora called on Sidon’s voters to “massively” head toward polling stations, and urged them to ignore the the intimidation attempts, saying victory in Sidon is just around the corner. (more…)

Baroud: Security forces are ready to tackle any situation in Sidon

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud played down election tension in Sidon and said security forces are ready to tackle any situation.

Earlier in the day, media reported a clash between Popular Nasserite Movement leader Osama Saad’s bodyguard and an Internal Security Forces member at a Saida polling station.

At a press conference Sunday, Baroud said that it was a small confrontation and it had been contained.

The interior minister said elections could be stopped as a last resort, but said he was hopeful that would not happen because the Lebanese army and security forces are capable of maintaining stability. (more…)

Municipal election: Sidon headed toward an election battle

Two major groups announced they were competing for Sidon municipal elections set for May 23 .

Mohammed al-Saudi tried but failed to forge consensus list and will now be facing the “Popular Will” list which is backed by the Popular Nasserite Organization.
The “Popular Will” is headed by Abdul Rahman al-Ansari and includes Mona Maarouf Saad al-Masri, Osama Saad’s sister. (more…)