Noticias

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah revealed Tuesday that the Free Patriotic Movement and al-Mustaqbal Movement have reached “agreements” regarding the presidential election, calling for involving Speaker Nabih Berri and Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh in the understandings.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed Monday from Bkirki that exerting efforts to reach a “settlement” over the stalled presidential vote is “more important” than focusing on candidates.

After talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Jumblat said he visited the patriarch to ask him to “bless the completion of the renovation of the Our Lady Church in Mukhtara.”

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan stressed Wednesday that only state institutions can protect the Lebanese against terrorism, not the formation of vigilante groups, as he criticized “some MPs” who are boycotting the presidential vote sessions.

“The regional blaze must prompt us to create an insulating wall through establishing a strong State and supporting the army and the security forces,” said Daryan during his Eid al-Fitr sermon at the Mohammed al-Amin Mosque in downtown Beirut.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged Lebanon's political forces on Friday to accept an initiative he made to end the political impasse and warned that the due date for the parliamentary elections are growing closer, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

“This is our last chance and time is passing,” Berri told the daily.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Tuesday blamed Hizbullah and Iran for the protracting political vacuum in Lebanon, a day after the party accused Riyadh of blocking political solutions in the country.

“Hizbullah, with Iranian support, is to blame for the political vacuum in Lebanon seeing as it is obstructing any effort aimed at resolving the presidential void crisis,” said Jubeir at a joint press conference he held with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Al menos cinco personas han muerto y otras 15 han resultado heridas después de que cuatro suicidas han detonado sus cinturones explosivos este lunes en una localidad de mayoría cristiana del valle libanés de la Bekaa, en la frontera con Siriay escenario frecuente de acciones yihadistas.

Según han informado a Efe fuentes militares, los suicidas hicieron explotar los cinturones con un intervalo de diferencia entre cada uno de 10 minutos en varios puntos próximos de la población de Qaa.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq assured that Lebanon's parliamentary elections will be held on time and that the ministry has started the preparations needed for that purpose, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

The parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 2017, amid disbelief that the long-awaited polls will be staged on time.

The parliament extended its own term twice, the first time in 2013 and a second time in 2014.

The national dialogue session will convene in Ain el-Tineh on Tuesday where the participating political factions are set to give a final position on a suggestion put forward by Speaker Nabih Berri in May regarding the electoral laws, al-Akhbar daily reported.

“Tuesday's session is one of the most important meetings in the current rounds of talks, taking into consideration the issues that will be discussed and the Speaker's position with regard to the positions of the interlocutors,” said the daily.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri on Monday called for “solidarity” with Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, the baking sector and “all the heroes who are defiant in the face of terrorism,” a day after a blast rocked the Beirut headquarters of Lebanon's second largest bank.

“Yesterday, Lebanon and its economy and banking sector were subjected to a clear terrorist message,” said Hariri at an iftar banquet he held at the Center House for students from several Lebanese universities and children from the Khaled Foundations.