| Lebanon news in brief Hariri informs Battle of stance against war in Iraq
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri informed US Ambassador Vincent Battle Saturday of the
country’s basic rejection of the current war against Iraq, as it is an unsuccessful
way of resolving disputes.
Speaking to Battle, who paid him a visit, the premier said resorting to war as a solution
to disputes would create new problems that “made people’s plight worse.”
Hariri called for halting the current armed conflict and referring the dispute to the
international institutions.
“Bypassing those institutions and their role has led to continuing unrest in various
areas around the world, specifically in the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli
conflict,” Hariri said.
He added that “letting the war against Iraq continue and ignoring international calls
for stopping it, was paving the way for Israel to reject all peaceful solutions to the
Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Hamas official urges Iraqi opposition to
‘expiate its sins’
The Hamas Movement representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, called on the Iraqi opposition
to “expiate its sins,” referring to its unity with the American and British
forces in their attacks against Iraq.
Hamdan was speaking during a festival held Saturday by the movement, at the Ain al-Hilweh
refugee camp, in support of Iraq and Palestine.
“The American insolent threats to Syria convey real annoyance with the Syrian
resistance position,” Hamdan said, adding that after the victory of Lebanon, the
“Americans and the Zionists strived to thwart the resistance attempts in achieving
victory once again.”
“We will not wait until Syria is aggressed, we consider this threat as a declaration
of war against the resistance and the nation.”
Hamdan stressed that any aggression against Syria, “the center of resistance,”
will extend beyond geographic borders, urging the Arab nation to follow the steps of
Syria, Lebanon and Palestine in its resistance.
Qabalan predicts Iraq will be
‘victorious’
The vice-president of the Higher Shiite Council predicted that Iraqis would be
“victorious” in fending off a US-UK offensive against their country.
“You have proven, O people of Iraq, that you have the iron determination and the
ability to face up to the invaders and the unjust ones in all places,” said Sheikh
Abdel-Amir Qabalan Saturday.
“You will be victorious and liberate your land, God willing, just as the people of
South Lebanon liberated their land and were patient while suffering from Israeli
occupation, finally able to challenge (the enemy). Israel is no less bad or dangerous than
America,” Qabalan said.
“Bush and Sharon read from the same book and belong to the same school, which is that
of the Torah,” he said, speaking at a commemorative service in the southern village
of Mais al-Jabal.
Sidon party representatives call for solidarity,
demonstrations
Sidon party representatives denounced the brutal aggressions against Iraqis and
Palestinians, calling for solidarity and demonstrations against oppression and tyranny.
A meeting was held Saturday at the Dar al-Ifta in Sidon, at the request of the Sidon Mufti
Sheikh Mohammed Salim Jalaleddine, to express the city’s position regarding the
US-led war against Iraq.
Participants included representatives Khodr Noureddine, Melhem Qanso, Ali Sheikh Ammar and
Ismat Kawas from Hizbullah, Amal, the Islamic Grouping and the Communist Labor
Organization, respectively.
They condemned America and Britain’s colonizing plans through the occupation of Iraqi
territories, the seizure of its oil and the imposition of a new regime with the aim of
promoting the “Zionist settlement plan.”
They also criticized the Arab officials’ positions and “conspiring”
regimes, which repressed demonstrations supporting Iraq. Participants expressed
appreciation for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s stand, describing the
Lebanese-Syrian simultaneity of tracks as “a model of unity.”
Local, foreign security forces heighten embassy
protection
American, British and other coalition countries, supporting or participating in the US-led
attack against Iraq, might have to rethink their embassy security arrangements in Lebanon,
according to Foreign Ministry sources.
Sources at the Foreign Ministry indicated Sunday, that the targeting of facilities
belonging to the US, Britain and “the coalition of the willing,” countries
supporting the current war on Iraq, “is likely to increase.”
“It is a known fact that Lebanese individuals and groups are ready to protest at
embassies’ doorsteps and even at offices, airlines, banks and cultural centers, which
are not as heavily protected,” sources said.
The sources named last week’s explosion at the British Council explosion and a
would-be suicide attack at the British Bank HSBC Saturday, as examples of future events to
follow.
The sources indicated that as the war progresses, local and foreign security forces have
started rethinking their strategies for protecting embassies, as well as residences of
diplomats.
The sources also said that government officials cannot prevent demonstrations, nor bar
people from denouncing the aggression against Iraq.
Missing Al-Arabiya TV crew found safe in Kuwait
DUBAI: Dubai-based Al-Arabiya Television said on Sunday its three-man team that went
missing in Iraq was safe and had resurfaced in Kuwait days later.
The news channel lost touch on March 22 with Syrian reporter Wael Awwad, Lebanese
cameraman Talal Masri and Lebanese technician Ali Safa.
“They arrived in Kuwait on Friday, March 28, at night. They are tired but in good
health,” an Arabiya official, who declined to be named, told Reuters. He would not
give further details.
Hundreds of journalists are in Iraq covering the US-led war, in the field with US and
British military units, or on their own. Two journalists, a Briton and an Australian, have
been killed in Iraq since the war started over one week ago. Reuters
Several airlines cancel flights due to drop in seat
occupancy
Beirut International Airport on Saturday received notification of cancellation of several
flights, “due to a drop in seat occupancy,” official sources said.
The canceled flights included, Kuwait Airways from Kuwait to Beirut, Air France from
Paris to Beirut, Syrian Airways from Damascus to Beirut, MEA from Amman to Beirut,
KLM from Amsterdam to Beirut, and Armenian Airways from Yerevan to Beirut. Since the
beginning of the Anglo-American war against Iraq, a number of flights have been canceled,
although MEA increased the number of flights to Kuwait to respond to increased demand.
MP criticizes lack of projects for developing
Beirut
Beirut MP Mohammed Qabbani criticized on Saturday the government’s neglect of
projects aimed at developing the capital.
In a statement, Qabbani said Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee had last week,
postponed a loan from the Arab Fund for the rehabilitation of Beirut’s
infrastructure. The Cabinet had also postponed the endorsement of a decision three weeks
ago, allowing loans to be granted for the construction of schools in areas across Lebanon,
including Beirut.
“Many roads in Beirut remain unpaved and poorly asphalted, while other roads
have not been rehabilitated for 50 years,” he stressed.
He added that although residents in Beirut count for one-third of the country’s
citizens, the city only comprised 48 public schools to the 1,300 spread in other areas.
The Cabinet decision would allow the construction of some 123 schools in Lebanon,
including 27 in Beirut, Qabbani said, stressing that his call embraced a balanced
development across the country.
Environmental study to start third phase in Sidon
A team of engineers at the Lebanese University’s Faculty of Technology in Sidon,
started the third phase of a field study for monitoring the environmental and geographic
developments along the port city’s northern coast.
The step comes as an implementation of recommendations issued following the Mediterranean
Coastal Cities’ Conference in May 2001, in Sidon.
During the two-year period of the study, beaches stretching between the Teachers’
School and the city’s sea fortress, would be monitored every three months and after
storms.
The study will be carried out by a team led by engineer Mahmoud Zowl, under the
supervision of the faculty. “The study aims at knowing whether the sea is encroaching
on the land or vice-versa,” Zowl said, adding that the beaches would be monitored
with a special electronic device.
Results will be submitted to the faculty, who in turn will transmit them to the UNESCO and
to the Sorbonne University, in France.
Appearance of Hepatitis A not from Zghorta’s
water supply
The president of the North Lebanon Order of Physicians said Saturday that the appearance
of Hepatitis A cases in the area was not worrying, adding that tests revealed that
Zghorta’s water was not polluted.
Speaking to reporters, Ibrahim Jokhadar said that Hepatitis was present throughout the
year, due to the consumption of polluted water or the use of common toilets with people
infected with the virus.
Jokhadar said that the Health Ministry sent samples of water from Zghorta’s sources
and springs to Orange Nassau laboratories, which revealed the water as healthy and
potable.
He said the virus could have spread due to agricultural products irrigated by used water.
Jokhadar said the cases were not limited to Zghorta, but patients went to the area’s
hospitals for treatment.
Phone lines to be cut for 2 days in North
The telephone maintenance company Ogero said it was cutting lines in the North for two
days as part of an upgrading
project.
In a statement, the company said that new phone lines in the Qibbeh area of Tripoli would
mean two days without service beginning Monday. Meanwhile, the company said that it would
begin accepting applications for new land lines in Batroun, also beginning Monday, after a
new cable was laid for the area.
Former Israeli detainees to start receiving
compensation
The Finance Ministry announced that it will start delivering compensation for former
Israeli detainees, who have completed administrative procedures, starting Monday.
In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said the compensation was for those who spent
less than one year and those who spent between one and three years in detention.
The concerned detainees should be present Monday at the ministry’s building in Hamra,
facing Bristol Hotel, with their personal identification papers or a civil registration
document recently issued to receive their transfers in person, or through a delegated
person.
The statement said the collection of transfers will be eased by presenting coupons with
serial
numbers to those concerned upon arrival to the ministry.
The ministry urged beneficiaries to comply with the measures to complete the compensation
paying process “swiftly,” according to the statement.
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