LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 17/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 5:43-48. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall
love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly
Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to
fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what
recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you
greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the
same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Benjamin Netanyahu Interview: Full Text-CBS News
16/06/09
Ahmadinejad may have won the election but Iranians want reform-The
Daily Star 16/06/09
The required change/Future News
16.06.09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June
16/09
Explosives-laden Car Found at Entrance to Ain el-Hilweh Camp-Naharnet
Hariri
Says Netanyahu's 'Road Map' Shatters Peace Efforts, Endangers Region-Naharnet
Report:
Riashi Leaves for The Hague as STL Judge-Naharnet
Gemayel: Diverging
Positions among March 14 Leaders on Berri's Reelection-Naharnet
Conditions Related to Speaker, Government Test Balloons Prior to Serious
Discussions-Naharnet
Iran ready for partial recount in
disputed vote-Reuters
Between the Iranian elections and
the Israeli extremism…fortifying Lebanon is a necessity-Future
News
Houri: March 14 have not decided
yet about the next House Speaker-Future
News
Al-Zoghbi: Less than 40% of
Christians elected Aounis deputies-Future
News
Murr Throws Metn Election Results
into Doubt-Naharnet
Swine
Flu Cases Rise to 10-Naharnet
Conditions Related to Speaker, Government Test Balloons Prior to Serious
Discussions-Naharnet
Moody's: Formation of Effective Cabinet is Major Challenge-Naharnet
Grenade Blast in Jbeil
Damages Vehicles-Naharnet
Gunfight Between Lebanese
Soldiers, Zoaiter Brothers-Naharnet
Abolition of Metn
Elections Possible-Naharnet
Nasrallah: Netanyahu
Speech Could Drive Region into Dangerous Period-Naharnet
Suleiman: Netanyahu's
Rigid Stance Calls For More Arab Unity, Safeguarding the Resistance-Naharnet
Jumblat: Netanyahu Gave Us
a War Speech; Lebanon Must Strengthen Its Defenses-Naharnet
Lebanon Charges 2 Army
Colonels for Working with Israel-Naharnet
Gemayel: Netanyahu's
Speech Requires 'Work Plan' against Settlement Ambitions-Naharnet
Iran's poll did not worry Hezbollah-GulfNews
Two
Lebanese colonels charged with spying for Israe-Daily
Star
Kahwaji says Lebanon busted Al-Qaeda cell-Daily
Star
Sidon
polls prompt soul-searching by rival sides-Daily
Star
Gemayel rules out veto for opposition alliance-Daily
Star
Sleiman rejects Netanyahu's 'rigid' stances-Daily
Star
Tribunal refuses to respond to criticism over procedural changes-Daily
Star
Berri
credits Syrian, Saudi stances with paving way toward new stage-Daily
Star
Western journalists in Beirut wage 'war' on Hizbullah supporters - and lose-Daily
Star
Lebanese banks receive international acclaim-Daily
Star
Lebanon election results 'positive for economy-Daily
Star
Cherry festival draws hundreds of visitors to Hammana-Daily
Star
Nora
Boustany named fellow at Issam Fares Institute-Daily
Star
Flex
bags offer fashionable, green alternative to plastic-Daily
Star
Lebanon's summer season officially begins-Daily
Star
Iran ready for partial recount in disputed vote
By Dominic Evans and Fredrik Dahl
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's top legislative body said Tuesday it was ready to
carry out a partial recount in a disputed presidential election that has
prompted the biggest street protests since the 1979 Islamic revolution. In what
appeared to be a first concession by authorities to the protest movement, the
powerful 12-man Guardian Council said it was ready to re-tally votes in the poll
in which hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the runaway
winner. Iranians outraged by Mirhossein Mousavi's defeat in what they viewed as
a stolen election were planning another rally on Tuesday, even though seven
people were killed Monday on the fringes of a huge march through the streets of
Tehran.
A senior ally of Mousavi was arrested Tuesday. Ahmadinejad's supporters called
for a counter-rally at the same Tehran square, setting the scene for more
confrontation in the turmoil that has riveted attention on the world's fifth
biggest oil exporter since Friday's poll. Further protests, especially if they
are maintained on the same scale, would be a direct challenge to the authorities
who have kept a tight grip on dissent since the 1979 overthrow of the
U.S.-backed shah after months of demonstrations. Iranian state television said
Tuesday the "main agents" in post-election unrest had been arrested with
explosives and guns. It gave no further details in a breaking news headline. The
United States and its European allies have been trying to engage Iran and
persuade Iran to halt nuclear work that could be used to make an atomic bomb.
Iran says it wants nuclear energy only to generate electricity.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who has sought to reach out to Iran asking its
leadership to "unclench its fist," said he was deeply troubled by the
post-election violence and that protesters who had taken to the streets had
inspired the world.
A spokesman for the Guardian Council said only that it was "ready to recount the
disputed ballot boxes claimed by some candidates, in the presence of their
representatives."
"It is possible that there may be some changes in the tally after the recount,"
spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodai was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news
agency.
CALL FOR NEW ELECTION
A senior reformist ally of Mousavi and another losing candidate, Mehdi Karoubi,
said they wanted a new election rather than a partial recount. Mousavi had asked
the Guardian Council to annul the vote, but has said he was not optimistic about
its verdict. Despite the mass protests and political turmoil, Ahmadinejad was in
Russia Tuesday and was endorsed as "the new president" by Russia's government on
his first foreign trip since official results showed he had won re-election.
Iran's English-language Press TV said seven people were killed and several
wounded at the end of Monday's rally -- a mainly peaceful gathering attended by
many tens of thousands -- when "thugs" tried to attack a military post in
central Tehran.
It gave no details of how the seven deaths occurred.
An Iranian photographer at the scene had said Islamic militiamen opened fire
when people in the crowd attacked a post of the Basij religious militia. He said
one person was killed and many wounded in the shooting. The Basij militia is a
volunteer paramilitary force fiercely loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei who has the final say on all matters of state and who replaced
revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini when he died 20 years ago.
Tehran has already seen three days of the biggest and most violent
anti-government protests in three decades and Mousavi supporters have pledged to
keep up the pressure. "Tomorrow at 5 p.m. (1230 GMT) at Vali-ye Asr Square,"
some of the crowd chanted at Monday's march, referring to a major road junction
in the sprawling city of 12 million.
Ahmadinejad supporters plan a rally at the same square just an hour earlier, the
semi-official Fars News said. It quoted an organization affiliated to the
government as saying the gathering would be "in protest against the recent
agitation and destruction of public property."
Leading Iranian reformist Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former vice-president who
backed pro-reform candidate Mehdi Karoubi in the election, was arrested early
Tuesday, his office said.
Reformist sources said another prominent reformer and Mousavi ally, Saeed
Hajjarian, was arrested Monday. There have been widespread arrests across the
country since the election protests broke out. The ISNA news agency said on
Tuesday around 100 people were arrested in unrest near a university in the
southern city of Shiraz.
Obama said he would continue pursuing tough, direct dialogue with Tehran but
urged that any Iranian investigation of election irregularities be conducted
without bloodshed.
Demonstrators filled a broad avenue in central Tehran for several kilometres
Monday, chanting "We fight, we die, we will not accept this vote rigging," in
support of Mousavi.
Mousavi was "ready to pay any price" in his fight against election
irregularities, his website quoted him as saying. "Tanks and guns have no use
any longer," chanted the protesters in a deliberate echo of slogans used leading
up to the 1979 revolution. Members of Iran's security forces have at times fired
into the air during the unrest and used batons to beat protesters who have
pelted police with stones. Gunfire was heard in three districts of wealthy
northern Tehran late Monday and residents said there had been peaceful pro-Mousavi
demonstrations in the cities of Rasht, Orumiyeh, Zahedan, and Tabriz Monday.
(Writing by Dominic Evans; editing by Peter Millership)
The required change
Date: June 16th, 2009 /Future News
History has never mentioned a people who experienced hardships more than the
Lebanese who suffered along their history. Iran wants them to be the fuel for
pricing its negotiations with America, and the Syrian regime is making use of
their remnants to gain proposals for negotiations and security roles with
Israel, which does not need a description to demonstrate its aggressive,
barbaric and criminal nature, because its history is crowded with shedding the
blood of the Lebanese. Now, and after the precise results of the parliamentary
elections which stressed on the principles of March 14 group and its political
values, efforts must be directed towards changing all what occurred previously
of obstructing the state and its institutions. This country will never be safe
in the light of the Zionist extremism, and the Lebanese will not have the
decision of peace and war on its land in light of the “obstruction” concept, and
in the light of a group that considers itself higher than questioning, and which
claims purity and that it is the only group which survived from the “corrupted”
Lebanese combination.
The required change aims to prevent the assassinations that targeted everyone
who refused the return of the Syrian trusteeship to Lebanon, including the
rivers of blood which poured in the streets of the country and all over its
land. The first mission of change is to drop the concept of obstruction, and
prevent paralyzing the government and closing the constitutional, political and
legitimate institutions. The change also targets to consolidate the work of the
Presidency as the symbol of the Lebanese unity not their division. The required
change is where political forces envisage the supreme interest of Lebanon, not
blocking roads and burning tires, and putting cement blocks and garbage
containers on the streets.
Al-Zoghbi: Less than 40% of Christians elected Aounis deputies
Date: June 15th, 2009
Attorney Elias al-Zoghbi, of the March 14 alliance, said Monday that 60% of the
Maronites in Lebanon voted for the March 14 Christian, Muslim and independent
candidates.
Al-Zoghbi told the almustaqbal.org: “Among the 34 elected Maronite seats in
parliament, 19 deputies of General Michel Aoun’s bloc were ironically elected by
non-Christian votes. Aoun has always used this ironical matter against his
rivals in other Christian parties, but has done the same. “Aoun is demanding to
have half the Christian representation in the government while he actually
attained less than half the Christian seats in parliament. “Aoun’s persistence
to have 7 ministers in the new government is a challenge to his allies because
it only leaves them 3 seats to be distributed among the Hizbullah, Amal, and the
Baath party in addition to others from outside the parliament.”Al-Zoghbi added
that Aoun’s popularity would dwindle in the end.
Between the Iranian elections and the Israeli extremism…fortifying Lebanon is a
necessity
Date: June 16th, 2009 /Future News
By the time the domestic concerns focused on the dramatic developments in that
followed the victory of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the
Presidential elections, the bypassing of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu of the efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, casted its heavy
shadows over the entire Lebanese political scene, which is busy arranging the
domestic situation. Therefore, there was a consensus on Netanyahu’s dangerous
positions, and calls to fortify the internal arena, and stress on the national
unity and internal adherence to confront the Israeli consensus.
In this context, President Michel Sleiman considered that “the Israeli position
which was expressed by Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the enemy, and which was
rigid, both at the level of dealing with the peace process, or resolving the
issue of Palestinian refugees, Arab leaders are required to be more united and
to maintain the spirit and will of resistance and to strengthen their
positions,” stressing that “the Arab initiative represents a chance for
achieving just and comprehensive peace.”
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora considered the speech of Netanyahu as extremely
dangerous and contrary to all the directions towards peace or the just and
comprehensive solutions. “The danger in Netanyahu’s speech requires us all to be
aware and conscious in these conditions that need more stress on the national
unity, internal adherence, calm and strict and stable positions, because the
previous experiences taught us that succeeding in confronting Israel is through
internal unity, national adherence, and commitment to the Arab initiative for
peace” Siniora said.
Leader of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Joumblat considered that Netanyahu’s
speech is “a speech of war that did not only obstruct and terminate every chance
for a settlement, but also destroyed it…” he pointed that this “stresses on the
need for a serious and deep discussion on a defense strategy that protects
Lebanon and enhances its defense abilities, especially that the grace period may
not exceed one year in light of the Israeli position which will use the
re-election of Iran's President as an excuse to carry out his threats and plans.
This stresses again on the importance of fortifying the internal arena.”
The Secretary-General of Hizbullah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that Netanyahu’s
last speech “represented a shock to all the Arab moderate leaders and failed the
bets of others on the position of the American administration in the region, and
Netanyahu came today to tell the Arab the truth and unveil his vision to the
future of the region, while the American administration is dealing with Arabs on
the basis of the strategy of passing time.”
President of Alkataeb party Amin Gemayel pointed that “Netanyahu’s speech is
dangerous and it is unacceptable to ignore it,” considering that “talking about
resettlement drops the right of Palestinians in returning to their homeland, and
is incompatible with the Lebanese and Arab decisions and requires a position on
the Lebanese and Arab levels.”
Internally, Gemayel called all political groups to keep the Lebanese arena away
from external conflicts, adding that "only the enemy benefits of this matter."
He stressed on the necessity of “removing the illegitimate arms, which caused
nothing but disasters.”
The Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir assured that “the country will flourish
if we agreed with each other,” adding that “what we said before the elections
was because the country was going in the other direction.”
Abolition of Metn Elections Possible
Naharnet/It seems that the story of election results in northern Metn has plenty
of unfinished chapters still to be written.
The daily Ad Diyar on Tuesday said it seemed that "torpedoing" elections in the
Metn constituency is very likely after post-election contestation complaints
filed by both MP Michel Murr and his rival Gen. Michel Aoun, leader of the Free
Patriotic Movement. What sparked the tension was an audio tape broadcast on
Aoun's OTV said to be from Murr in which he threatened Syriac Orthodox priest
Elias al-Akari by making use of his son's position as defense minister. Ad Diyar
said Akari has left Lebanon. It said some reports have confirmed that he fled to
Syria to avoid interrogation. Murr had filed a lawsuit with the Prosecutor's
General Office against OTV, accusing it of forgery, usage of forged
documentation as well as instigating hatred. He accompanied his complaint with
evidence as well as two tapes. The Archbishopric of Mount Lebanon for the Syriac
Orthodox Church has also filed a lawsuit against father Akari, accusing him of
embezzlement and stealing of money as well as of fabrication, forgery and
bribery. Aoun had earlier exchanged accusations with Murr over election funding.
Beirut, 16 Jun 09, 09:51
Murr Throws Metn Election Results into Doubt
Naharnet/MP Michel Murr on Tuesday was skeptical over the Metn election results,
wondering where all those additional 4,000 Armenian votes came from.
"I wonder where the increase in number of voters came from and whether Armenians
voted with the fake IDs uncovered by the interior ministry," Murr asked during a
press conference.
Murr revealed that the number of Armenians who voted in Metn for Camille Khoury
and Amin Gemayel in 2007 was 9,200 with full mobilization of voters.
Murr said that according to MP Hagop Pakradounian the number of Armenian voters
in 2009 reached 13,700 in Metn while only 9,300 voters were supposed to have
cast their ballots.
"This raised suspicion given the increase in the number of Armenian voters by
more than 4,000," Murr argued.
He said the "suspicious Armenian votes" affected outcome of the Metn poll,
adding that contacts with Tashnag cease to exist for now.
Murr criticized Tashnag for pledging to vote for him during polls, "but a day
ahead of elections it succumbed to pressure form MP Michel Aoun and others."
He demanded that the interior ministry, the general prosecution and the
constitutional council cancel the fake votes "which exceeded the normal Armenian
voting rate."
The Metn MP said his "Salvation" electoral list will contest the elections once
documents required for the appeal are completed.
Murr pointed that in the event controversy over the election fraud story was
settled, the result would be six winners from his list and one from Aoun's.
Turning to father Elias Akari of the Syriac Orthodox church without naming him,
Murr said: "Let the judiciary take its course. I don't want to go into stories
fabricated by this small broker."
An audio tape broadcast on Aoun's OTV said to be from Murr in which he
threatened Syriac Akari by making use of his son's position as defense minister
has sparked tension.
Murr had filed a lawsuit with the Prosecutor's General Office against OTV,
accusing it of forgery, usage of forged documentation as well as instigating
hatred.
The Archbishopric of Mount Lebanon for the Syriac Orthodox Church has also filed
a lawsuit against father Akari, accusing him of embezzlement and stealing of
money as well as of fabrication, forgery and bribery. On the new government,
Murr said he supports the nomination of MP Saad Hariri for the premiership and
Speaker Nabih Berri for the speaker's post. Beirut, 16 Jun 09, 12:08
Swine Flu Cases Rise to 10
Naharnet/Two new cases of swine flu have been diagnosed in Lebanon, the health
ministry announced on Tuesday, raising the number of infections in the country
to 10.
A 27-year-old man from Australia and a 32-year-old woman from Canada, who
arrived at Beirut airport on Monday, were carrying the virus, the ministry said
in a statement.
The two were put in quarantine and given the proper medical treatment in time.
All those who came in contact with them were also given medication, the
statement added.
The ministry said that the virus was not homegrown and came from the outside.
Beirut, 16 Jun 09, 13:41
Conditions Related to Speaker, Government Test Balloons
Prior to Serious Discussions
Naharnet/Lebanon's main political players have been in the process of exchanging
proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to settle on a candidate for
Speaker and a unity government, but nothing too serious yet. The daily An Nahar
on Tuesday quoted sources concerned with internal consultations as saying
Saturday is the official date for the launch of "serious" discussions. It noted,
however, that the only candidate for the speakership is current Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri. The sources did not rule out the possibility of a meeting
next week between March 14 leaders to agree on a final position on the issues of
the speakership and premiership. The same sources denied reports trying to tie
the two events under a "comprehensive deal."They said contacts among leaders of
the March 14 alliance showed no deal was in the works with regards to a
trade-off on Hizbullah arms in return for abandoning veto power demand. Pan-Arab
daily al-Hayat, meanwhile, quoted an opposition source as describing as "hasty"
the positions by both Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh and Free
Patriotic Movement chief Gen. Michel Aoun with regards to veto power and
proportional representation. Berri has added nothing to a decision by his
Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc that nominated him for another
term as speaker. Beirut, 16 Jun 09, 08:32
Moody's: Formation of Effective Cabinet is Major Challenge
Naharnet/Credit ratings agency Moody's Investors Service has said the "peaceful"
Lebanese parliamentary elections held on June 7 provided reassurances although
many challenges remain.
Moody's said in a report that despite the March 14 alliance's victory in the
elections, the major challenge is the ability to form an "effective" new
government "that will push forward the fiscal and economic reforms that Lebanon
needs.""Yet, the improvement in both the domestic and regional political tone
over the past year does provide hope that cooperation on matters of national
interest can be achieved," Moody's said. It added that President Michel Suleiman
can play an important role in this regard.
The report reminded that the agency upgraded Lebanon's sovereign ratings to B2
in April because of the substantial improvement in external liquidity, the
proven resistance of the public finances to shocks, and the willingness and
ability of the country's resilient banking system to finance fiscal deficits.
Moody's Investors Service, a leading global credit rating, research and risk
analysis firm, publishes credit opinions, research, and ratings on fixed-income
securities, issuers of securities and other credit obligations. Beirut, 16 Jun
09, 10:08
Grenade Blast in Jbeil Damages Vehicles
Naharnet/A hand grenade blast damaged a Mercedes and a Toyota four-wheeler owned
by Ghassan Toufiq Bou Younes in al-Wardiyeh neighborhood in Jbeil, the National
News Agency reported Tuesday. Internal Security Forces explosives expert
Adjutant Talal Ajram who inspected the scene said a hand grenade caused the
blast.
NNA said the force of the blast also shattered the windows of Bou Younes' house
on the ground floor. An investigation was opened into the incident. Beirut, 16
Jun 09, 13:30
Gunfight Between Lebanese Soldiers, Zoaiter Brothers
Naharnet/Lebanese army troops exchanged gunfire with wanted criminal Zuhair Ali
Daoud Zoaiter during a raid on his home in the Bekaa town of Kneiseh late
Monday, the National News Agency reported.NNA said Zoaiter, 40, is wanted on
scores of arrest warrants. Zoaiter and his brother Nouh, 42, opened fire on the
soldiers who shot back but the siblings managed to escape from the back door of
the house. Beirut, 16 Jun 09, 12:52
Lebanon Charges 2 Army Colonels for Working with Israel
Naharnet/A military prosecutor charged two Lebanese army colonels on Monday with
collaborating with Israel, raising the number of suspects arraigned in the past
few weeks to more than 50, a court official said. Military prosecutor Saqr Saqr
charged Mansour Diab and Shahid Toumiyeh, who were arrested last month, with
providing Israel with information about military and security positions, as well
as civilian locations and aiding Israeli forces, the official said. Diab was
also charged with possessing unlicensed weapons and hand grenades, while
Toumiyeh was charged with illegally entering Israel, the official said. The two
colonels were detained as part of a stepped-up campaign against suspected
Israeli spies over the past two months that has produced about 100 arrests.
Those arrested have all been accused of providing intelligence to Israel on
Hizbullah. Several others who have been charged are also still at large, and
Lebanese officials have said three suspected spies fled across the border to
Israel. Following the arrest of the two colonels, the Lebanese army sent a
message to its troops warning them against Israeli attempts to infiltrate the
military.(AP-Lebanon) Beirut, 16 Jun 09, 08:17