Hariri’s office denies claim of Al-Qaeda donation
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s office on Thursday denied a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Hariri had donated money to the Al-Qaeda organization.
Hariri’s office said the report, based on sources at the United Nations following information from American intelligence, was “part of an Israeli campaign to smear the reputation of Lebanon.”
Hariri’s office said Israel was trying to force the Lebanese government and its officials to drop long-standing national policies, which include the indivisibility of negotiating tracks with Syria, and the call for implementing the land-for-peace formula adopted at the 1991 Madrid Conference as well as UN resolutions on the Middle East.

Nassib Lahoud slams Metn by-election process
Metn MP Nassib Lahoud on Thursday again decried the handling of the controversial Metn by-election.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Premier Rafik Hariri to discuss the June 2 vote and its controversial results, Lahoud said the matter did not concern “(legal) texts, but the election process itself.”
Lahoud criticized the government for not preserving the integrity of the vote, in which Gabriel Murr defeated his niece Myrna.
“Interior Minister Elias Murr has breached a clear law requiring voters to use voting booths,” Lahoud said. “This is why I have urged the premier to ban similar moves during the next general elections.”
Lahoud said laws meant nothing to foreign investors if ministers did not abide by them.

Free Patriotic Movement says Aoun return imminent
The Free Patriotic Movement said Thursday that former army commander Michel Aoun was likely to return to Lebanon soon.
A Thursday statement by the FPM denounced an article in An-Nahar that quoted sources close to President Emile Lahoud as saying he was “not the only one who could give Aoun the green light to return.”
“Aoun fears no one because he did not shell residential areas as other militia groups now sharing power did,” the FPM said.
It added that “not one Lebanese party has objected to Aoun’s return,” and that all the parties have said such a move would be “legitimate.”

Delegation meets premier to discuss European investment
A visiting delegation representing a number of leading investment companies in Europe met with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Thursday, along with former Akkar MP Talal Merehbi.
The legislator told reporters later that the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to sound out the prospects of investment in Lebanon.
“The delegation has chosen Lebanon … because it believes the future of investment in the country is good. We hope this will contribute to improving the economic situation, particularly as it proves that major financial establishments abroad have confidence in investing in Beirut,” Merehbi said.
Hariri “encouraged the delegation to invest in the country, pointing to the facilities offered for the purpose,” Merehbi added.

Constitutional experts to begin revamping election law
A committee of constitutional experts, headed by civil appeals court head Said Adra, and entrusted with the task of drafting a new election law, will meet Monday to propose its mechanics, according to a report issued Thursday.
Justice Minister Samir Jisr announced the committee’s formation Tuesday after the vote-counting debacle following the recent Metn by-election. He said the committee’s goals would involve “reviewing the role” and “accurately defining the tasks” of the Higher Vote Tabulation Committee, which is staffed by judges.
The tabulation committee was involved in a fiasco that saw conflicting vote counts issued. The problem arose as a result of counting errors and questions over the prerogative to decide how votes should be tabulated in the event of technical irregularities.

Skaff renews criticism of agriculture policy
Zahle MP Elie Skaff criticism of government agricultural policy again Thursday, calling for “consolidating” food security now that social security was “on the brink of collapse.”
Skaff proposed drawing up a “clear agricultural policy” from which the “productive class of farmers” would benefit. He described this class as “the safety pin for civil societies.”
The MP also asked about the fate of a letter he had addressed to Speaker Nabih Berri calling for a parliamentary debate on the government’s agricultural policy and the policy of Agriculture Minister Ali Abdullah. Skaff said Abdullah’s policies had been “based on a series of fallacies, violations and deals.”
He said such a policy would only lead to “destroying the agricultural sector and raising production costs.”
Skaff accused Abdullah of establishing “imaginary cooperatives, which exist only on paper,” and for appointing project directors for a monthly salary above $2,000 “when they have nothing to do.”

Pakradouni leads condemnation of assault on bishop
Phalange Party president Karim Pakradouni led a chorus of condemnation of a recent assault against Melchite bishop Gregoire Haddad, who was confronted after taking part in a religious program on a local TV station.
The bishop told As-Safir newspaper that the assault took place because his attackers felt that Haddad had openly denied that Christ would return for the “final judgement” day.
“Christ is not coming to judge people but to save them,” Haddad had said on a TV program on Tele-Lumiere.
The bishop was confronted last Friday after a number of Christian fundamentalists who disagree with his views attacked him as he left the building.
“Such an attack … was an attack against religious moderation,” said Pakradouni.
Also condemning the incident were former Prime Minister Salim Hoss’ National Action Forum, Environment Minister Michel Musa, the Melchite Council, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the head of the Syriac League, Habib Frem and the Amel Organization and several MPs.

Egyptian foreign minister briefs Hammoud on peace efforts
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud received a message from his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Maher, on Thursday detailing Egypt’s efforts within the framework of the regional peace process.
The message was conveyed to Hammoud by Egyptian Ambassador Hatem Saifunnasr and detailed the outcome of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s recent visit with US President George W. Bush.
The ambassador also explained that the gesture was necessitated by Lebanon’s status as current chair of the Arab Summit.

Salameh touts archaeological sites as tourist attractions
Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh said Thursday that government plans to revive archaeological landmarks in various parts of the country would help boost tourism.
He was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during which he was accompanied by a delegation representing a special committee entrusted with preserving and promoting Tripoli’s old landmarks.
Salameh said the Tripoli experiment would serve as a nucleus for similar ventures in various cities where archaeological treasures could be found.
“We are on the threshold of a very successful tourist season in Lebanon.  We don’t want this tourism to be concentrated in the capital … but that visitors be also acquainted with the various landmarks, especially in Tripoli, the richest tourist city,” he added.

LU teachers elect new executive committee
The Lebanese University Teachers’ League on Thursday elected a new executive committee to be headed by Charbel Kfoury.
The elections followed a consensus on the new committee members that was reached by a range of political parties, including the Amal Movement, the Progressive Socialist Party and the National Bloc.
In a statement issued by the new committee, Kfoury said that efforts to reach a consensus sprang from the “dangerous situation’’ affecting the state-owned institution. He added that the committee would fight against the cancellation of the university’s mutual fund and would exert all efforts to provide students with educational excellence.
Kfoury also pledged to respect student freedoms and work with LU officials as well as the executive and legislative powers to finalize all suspended issues.
The committee also announced that it would publish its agenda in a report that would be submitted soon to the LU Council of Delegates.

Beydoun calls for EDL to be ready for summer demand
Energy and Water Minister Mohammed Abdel-Hamid Beydoun urged Electricite du Liban (EDL) chairman and director-general Kamal Hayek to prepare the Deir Ammar and Zahrani power plants and the Baalbek natural gas plant to meet this summer’s energy demands.
In a letter forwarded to Hayek Thursday, Beydoun indicated that electricity should be consistently supplied to most areas this summer, particularly with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of tourists.
Considering that both the Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants are the main sources of power in the country, the minister demanded that he be informed about the EDL timetable and measures to be adopted for adequate power supply.
Beydoun is expected to head to Jordan on Saturday to participate at a ministerial meeting Saturday and Sunday, during which Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Jordan, will discuss a natural gas transport and export agreement.

Beirut council declares war on motorbikes and banners
The Beirut Municipal Council has launched a sweeping crackdown on illegal banners and motorcycle driving, seen as hindering the attraction of tourists and investors to the country.
Late Wednesday, Mayor Abdel-Monem Aris presided over a meeting to re-examine several decisions, recommendations and letters forwarded to the Interior and Municipalities Ministry demanding the removal of all banners and posters in addition to the tracking down illegal motorcycle drivers.
The council launched a 15-day campaign aimed at eliminating all posters under the penalty of fines and municipal fees.
The council called on religious authorities, as well as the capital’s governor, to aid in the effort.

Syrians seek expert help in managing grottoes
A delegation from the Syrian Tourism Ministry arrived here Thursday to get to know the know-how of Lebanese expertise in the investment and administration of grottoes.
The delegation visited the Tourism Ministry’s director-general, Nada Sardouk, before heading to the ministry’s Touristic and Historic Sites department for talks with officials, which was attended by the head of the Higher Syrian-Lebanese Council, Abdel-Naser Jamaleddine.
The delegation asked officials to share their expertise based on the bilateral agreements in this field.
The delegation visited the Jeita Grotto, where the director of the investing company, Nabil Haddad, explained the steps for the cave’s rehabilitation.
The delegation will resume Friday its meetings with Lebanese experts before heading to the Roueiss Grotto in Aqoura.
Experts from the Tourism Ministry were invited by delegation member Ibrahim Hassan to visit the sector in Syria.

Beydoun announces drop in fuel prices
A LL100-per-20-liters decrease in all gasoline prices was announced by Energy and Water Minister Mohammed Abdel-Hamid Beydoun Thursday.
According to a ministry statement, the price of 20 liters of 98 octane leaded gasoline, 20 liters of 95 octane unleaded gasoline, and 20 liters of 90 octane unleaded gasoline will now cost LL21,500, LL19,300, and LL19,100 respectively.
The statement added that the price of a kiloliter of fuel oil had decreased by $1, to $174.
The price of 20 liters of kerosene and diesel remained unchanged at LL7,700 and LL7,100, respectively. A 10 kilogram-canister of butane also remained LL9,500.

Bekaa man arrested for murdering wife
A Bekaa man was arrested Thursday for allegedly killing his wife with a butcher knife.
Judicial and security sources reported that Issam Kamal Menem, 60 murdered his 53-year wife, Najla Mahmoud Sobh, at their house in Sohmor in the Western Bekaa.
Judicial and security sources said the couple, which had divorced and then later reconciled, had been beset by disputes of an irreconcilable nature.
The sources said preliminary investigations revealed that on the night before the murder, Menem secured the knife and spent considerable time sharpening it, before attacking his wife the following day, nearly decapitating her with the blow.
Neighbors who rushed to the scene were unable to save Sobh after the attack, while security personnel apprehended Menem.
The judiciary and the ISF have launched an investigation into the murder.

Ex-SLA militiamen sentenced to death
The Military Tribunal, headed by Brigadier Maher Safieddine, sentenced two former South Lebanon Army militiamen to death in absentia.
The death sentence was handed down against Hassib Farhat and Sami Ghazal, both former members of Israel’s proxy militia during its occupation of the South. Mohammed Imad was also sentenced in absentia to 15 years hard labor on charges of enlisting in the SLA and dealing with the enemy.
The tribunal has delivered hard labor sentences ranging from six months to 15 years on 11 other former SLA members after finding them guilty of enlisting in the enemy’s forces.
Ghada Yassin was also sentenced in absentia to two years imprisonment and charged a LL2 million fine for entering Israel.

South’s governor calls for coordination in fighting blazes
South Lebanon Governor Faisal Sayegh chaired a meeting Thursday to discuss boosting the efforts of local firemen and Civil Defense personnel during the summer, which has already seen daily outbreaks of blazes around the country.
Also taking part in the meeting was Hilal Qobrosli, the mayor of Sidon and the head of the Union of Sidon-Zahrani Municipalities.
Sayegh indicated that the meeting debated the possibility of creating a joint base of operations with the army to coordinate in tackling the fires.

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