| Annahar |
| • |
Battle of the
two delegations starts in Beirut; Lahoud demands removing reference to 'government' from
Lebanon's paper |
|
• |
Contrary to all Arab delegations, Saudi Arabia
will receive today two Lebanese delegations, one presidential and the other ministerial.
The first, headed by President Lahoud, includes resigned ministers Fawzi Salloukh and
Yaqoub Sarraf. The second, headed by PM Siniora, includes acting FM Tariq Mitri and
Economy Minister Sami Haddad. |
|
• |
The Lebanese split brings to the picture the
acute difference that prevailed in the Khartoum Summit exactly one year ago. |
|
• |
The sharp dichotomy started in Beirut with
President Lahoud's refusal to recognize the other delegation, and his demand to remove all
reference to "government" from the text of Lebanon's paper to the Summit, which
was submitted to and approved by the Arab League Council on March 3, 2007. |
| • |
France raises
possibility of Chapter 7 on summit eve |
|
• |
French Foreign Ministry's spokesman
Jean-Baptiste Mattei says "issue of creating the tribunal under 'Chapter 7' could be
resorted to in the end", adding that "the Lebanese and the international
community cannot forsake the tribunal which answers the demand for justice,"
Annahar's correspondent in Paris reported. |
| • |
A rab foreign ministers revive Arab peace initiative |
|
• |
Riyadh hints at changes that would be
"harmonious with developments." |
| • |
One dead in
fight with police in Baalbeck |
|
• |
Incident believed linked to robbery. |
| • |
Pedersen meets
Siniora, Berri, discusses preparations for Ban Ki-moon's visit |
| • |
Tueini meets
Berri, says agrees to Casa as basis for new electoral law |
|
• |
Says Berri "supports all what Patrirach
Sfeir and the Christians in general agree to." |
| • |
Lebanese
forces say Berri's press conference aimed at blowing tribunal |
|
• |
Affirms that solution begins with electing a
new president; hopes for a new electoral law that would guarantee the rights of 'all the
ingredients' of the Lebanese people; says undermining the work of the Parliament is but
one attempt to annul the political effects of Syria' withdrawal form Lebanon; says Berri's
press conference was another attempt to undermine the tribunal, go on with
paralyzing Lebanon's institution, and arrive at a government that would confiscate
Lebanon's executive authority, as is the case with the presidency and the parliament.. |
| • |
Harb: 2/3
quorum not necessary for electing new president |
|
• |
Says had the legislator wanted an exception,
he would have mentioned clearly in Article 49 that the parliament needs a 2/3 quorum for
electing the president, which is not the case. [Article 49 states that " The
President of the Republic shall be elected by secret ballot and by a two-thirds majority
of the Chamber of Deputies. After a first ballot, an absolute majority shall be
sufficient.] To illustrate Harb also says that the legislator, had he wished to make an
exception, he would have indicated that clearly as in Artilce 79, which states that
"When a draft law dealing with a Constitutional amendment is submitted to the
Chamber, it cannot discuss it or vote upon it except when a majority of two thirds of the
members lawfully composing the Chamber are present. Voting shall likewise be by the same
majority." |
| • |
Aoun's Change
and Reform Bloc lashes at Siniora's going to summit |
|
• |
Says act is a threat to the unity of Lebanon's
authority; describes it as a 'dangerous divisive tendency'; says solution rests in
arriving at one package comprising a national unity government, approval of tribunal and
passing a new electoral law; says electing president cannot take place without ensuring a
2/3 quorum; warns "in advance against the danger of bypassing constitutional and
contractual rights to impose a non-consensual president." |
| • |
Norway
decides to open embassy in Beirut |
| • |
Jumblat says
Lebanese formula is in danger |
|
• |
Says "the Lebanese experiment is facing
an unprecedented coup aiming at undermining Lebanon's existence, democratic system and the
Taef Accord"; pleads to all Arabs, on the eve of the Arab Summit, "to offset the
drive to undermine Lebanon's democracy, freedom of press and expression, free economy,
historic openness, diversity, and the constitutional and political institutions which are
now facing the danger of collapse, one after the other." |
| • |
Lahoud's
stance upsets Saudi's, Arabs - By Khalil Fleihan |
| Assafir |
| • |
Riyadh Summit, tomorrow:
Resolutions ready...implementation postponed |
|
• |
Saud Al Faisal fears 'the Lebanese infection'
and Abul Gheit sees no Arab difference except over the Lebanese file. |
|
• |
Qaddafi boycotts, Bin Ali away and the meeting
between Abdullah and Assad under discussion. |
|
• |
Lebanon split seen as reason to sideline the
Lebanese issue, postpone debating it, may be until after the Summit. |
|
• |
Arab sources say plans to avoid confrontation
between Lebanon's two delegations are underway. One such plan provides for having Lahoud
attend the opening sessions, while Siniora would attend bilateral meetings. |
|
• |
Saud Al Faisal says Lebanon's paper to Summit
was approved as is to avoid having the Lebanese issue effect the course of the meeting. |
| • |
Fadlallah:
Sectarian system, clerics transformed Lebanon into a non-united states |
| • |
This is how Jamil Al Sayyid
became a political prisoner by excellence - By Ali Moussawi |
| Al-Mustaqbal |
| • |
Lahoud surprises summit with anti-consensus amendments |
| • |
Lebanese split before Summit - Radwan Al Sayyid |
| • |
Al Faisal
hopes Summit will have the upper hand in providing acceptable solutions |
| • |
What's between
Kihan's hints and Hezbollah's warnings - Nassir Al Asaaad |
|
• |
Iran conservative daily Kihan says Iran's
nuclear fight will be launched in Beirut, Baghdad, Jerusalem and other capitals, stresses
that Hezbollah is just a specimen. |
|
• |
Hezbollah says any bet on regional stability
is wrong, vows to hit back if Iran is attacked. |
|
• |
Syrian regime amid contacting Israel and
preparing for war. |
|
• |
Lebanese issue at crossroads. |
| • |
Jumblat: Coup
forces undermining institutions to bring state down |
|
• |
Says voice of legitimacy is louder 'even if
the Baabda chair usurper speaks'. |
|
• |
Describes Lahoud as agent to the
Iranian-Syrian axis |
|
• |
Says the whole Lebanese formula is in danger. |
| • |
Howells:
Lebanon concerned Hezbollah will blow things up |
|
• |
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs Dr Kim Howells says slow progress seen over tribunal; expresses worry over Syrian
intervention in Lebanon; says relations with Syria dependent on how Damascus cooperates
over the Lebanese file. |
| Addiyar |
| • |
Lebanon's two wings fly to the Summit |
| • |
Strong battle of words rages between Lahoud and
Siniora |
| • |
Berri to Sfeir: I am with you even for the small
constituency |
| • |
Summit adopts Lebanese paper without any amendment |
| • |
Moussa for resuming efforts to resolve Lebanon's
crisis |
| • |
Al Faisal call for not reflecting Lebanon struggle
at Summit |
| • |
Road to solution starts with electing a new
president |
| • |
Wakim calls on opposition to prepare for
confrontation |
| • |
Opening Damascus gates to Jumblat subject to his
apology |
| Al-Balad |
| • |
Lebanese split at
summit bypasses structure, plummets to essence |
| • |
Amr Mousa vows to resume
initiative after Summit |
| • |
Saudi logistic and
diplomatic confusion over Lebanon's dual representation |
| • |
Chirac wants tribunal to
begin work before his leaving office 'even under Chapter 7' |
| • |
Hezbollah holds authority
responsible for impeding solution |
|
• |
Hajj Hassan: Obstacles serves no one. |
| • |
Majority moving to the Parliament today |
|
• |
Opposition surprised despite
Berri's clarification. |
| • |
Kenaan: The 'blocking third' is one of the
Christians' rights |
| Al-Akhbar |
| • |
Riyadh takes Lahoud's
remarks into consideration |
| • |
Majority, opposition MPs
to face one another at Parliament today |
| • |
Moussa
prepares for coming back to Beirut |
| • |
Siniora's
last show - By Ibrahim al Amine |
| • |
Ain
Alaq for safe keeping to prevent implicating some of those in power? - By Jean Aziz |
| • |
Political
Kesrwan: A vague power map -
By Ghassan Saoud |
| Al-Siyasah |
| • |
Jumblat: Lebanon
represented at Summit by Siniora, and not the Syrian-Iranian agent Lahoud |
| • |
Hezbollah says ready for
compromise, majority call on group to end sit-in |
| • |
Riyadh Summit resolutions
will place Lebanon under Arab protection, immunize tribunal |
