Lebanon Press
Headlines
Annahar
- Berri, Hariri hold first meeting in 4 months, unleashing
stalled dialogue between majority and opposition.
- Prior to meeting Berri, Hariri holds meetings with Sfeir,
Gemayel, Qabbani, Siniora, calls Geagea. Hariri's meeting with Sfeir came in the wake of
the statement made by the Maronite Bishops on the repercussions of placing tribunal under
Chapter 7.
- Hariri: Tribunal will be formed even under Chapter 7...and
without bartering. There is optimism, and we want solutions to be based on the 'no-victor-no-vanquished'
principle.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki postpones sudden
visit to Beirut. Sources say Mottaki may arrive today pending outcome of Berri-Hariri
meeting. Visit said to be in the framework of Iranian efforts to resolve Lebanon crisis.
- Siniora: Let them abide by the tribunal and the 7 points, and take 13
ministers.
- Iranian general disappeared at will, voluntarily cooperating
with western intelligence, supplying info on Hezbollah, but not on Iran's nuclear file.
- Siniora calls Italian PM Romano Prodi, asks him to urge
Israel to stop violating Lebanon's airspace.
- Hoss praises Berri-Hariri meeting, says their getting
together is key to solution.
- Mottaki postpones visit to Beirut pending positive outcome. By
Khalil Fleihan
- Murr meets Gates, receives unprecendetd military welcome,
says army will receive equipment before June.
- Lebanese Forces say Iranian-Saudi meet brought nothing new,
note that matters are still heading to escalation.
- Carlos Edde's National Bloc Party says "Syria and
Israel have a secret understanding with regard to what's being cooked for the
region", expresses hope that "part of the opposition would wake up to that and
return to the national options."
- Hezbollah: No solution without the blocking third.
- Hariri says to Sfeir: Blocking third will give Iran a
foothold in the Mediterranean, Chapter 7 is the last resort. By Hiam Qosseifi.
- Former US advisor David
Schenker says says Lebanon's ambassador to Washington Farid
Abboud must be removed.
- Bkerki's warning to those betting on devastation. By Edmond Saab
- International forces, 1701 and the South. By Sarkis Naoum..
Assafir
- Berri-Hariri meeting a beginning to solving crisis, but!
- Hariri says 'neither us nor the opposition can rule the
country alone', notes that things are heading to a real solution in Lebanon.
- Diplomatic sources: Convening Lebanon's Dialogue Committee
in Riyadh before Summit is likely if Saudi efforts succeed.
- Sfeir says priority should be given to the electoral law,
warns against tampering with Christian balances, calls for ending sit-ins to relief
citizens, reiterates that Tribunal under Chapter 7 would be conducive to strife.
- Olmert: War against Lebanon was decided in March 2006.
- Belgian ambassador to Lebanon Stephane De Loecker says
tribunal inevitable, but Chapter 7 will entangle the whole world. By Marlene Khalife.
- Lahoud: Geagea's pasts is proven by judiciary verdicts.
- Former US Secretary of State Madleine Albright, in a speech
at the Issam Fares' lecture series at Tufts University, calls for an in-depth review of US
politics in the Middle East.
- Syrian National Socialist Part: Lebanon is before a real
abyss; solution should come before the Summit.
- PLO Political Department chief Farouq Qddoumi arrives in
Lebanon, will meet Lebanon's top leaders.
- Fatfat: Holding a parliamentary session under the deputy
speaker is unconstitutional.
- Legal expert former MP Hassan Rifaii says only speaker can
call parliament to convene in ordinary session, affirms parliament can remove confidence
from Speakers, but needs a two third majority.
Al-Mustaqbal
- Hariri meets Berri, highlights the
"no-victor-no-vanquished" formula.
- 'Future' Bloc Leader consults with allies, denies difference
with Sfeir over Chapter 7, underscores "package solution".
- Hashemi Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Expediency Discernment
Council of Iran, says Saudi-Iranian cooperation have solved many dilemmas .
- David Satterfield, Senior Advisor on Iraq for Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice, says Iran and Syria should defend themselves against accusations.
- Washington Post: Missing Iranian general Ali Rez Asghari
voluntarily providing western intelligence with information on Hezbollah.
Ad-Diyar
- Saudi-Iranian-Syrian contacts brought Berri and Hariri
together.
- Outside pressure exerted to find a broadline solution,
leaving details to the Lebanese.
- Khoja to Addiyar: Saudi Arabia won't intervene to name the
11th minister
- Lebanese Forces: Every one knows the mean tactics used in
fabricating files during Lahoud's term.
- Lahoud: Facts of the crimes committed by Geagae cannot be
eliminated.
Al-Balad
- Mottaki to arrive in Beirut today prior to convening Baghdad
Conference Saturday.
- Hariri ends tour by breaking ice with Berri.
- Hariri rejects the 19-11 formula in exchange for the
tribunal.
- Hezbollah commends Bkerki's 'courageous' statement over
Chaper 7.
- Syria erects dirt barriers to block illegal crossings to and
from Lebanon.
- Police arrests 3 PFLP-GC (Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine - General Command) elements transporting weapons on Nabatieh road. PFLP-GC
denies.
- Lahoud: Arresting the four officers suspected of Hariri
murder is illegal.
- Fatfat: 19-11 formula violates Constitution and Taef
Accord..
Al-Akhbar
- Berri-Hariri: Time for "courageous decisions".
- Murmur at Al Mustqabal (Future Bloc): Who sacrifices who?The
government or the tribunal?
- Opposition: Either a 19-11 cabinet or waiting until the
presidential elections.
- Arms dealers arrested in Nabatieh with anti-aircraft
missiles.
Al-Hayat
- Marathon tour by Hariri before meeting
Berri: One-package solution, and on barter on tribunal
Al-Siyassa
- France warns Syria against any military adventure against
Lebanon.
- Moving 7,000 Lebanese troops from south Lebanon to
border with Syria considered.
- Paul Gemayel suggests handing ministry of defense to
Hezbollah.
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