LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِOctober
05/2010
Bible Of The
Day
Matthew12/30-37: "He who is not with me is
against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters. 12:31 Therefore I tell
you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the
Spirit will not be forgiven men. 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of
Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it
will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
12:33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt,
and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 12:34 You offspring
of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth speaks. 12:35 The good man out of his good treasure
brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure* brings out
evil things. 12:36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will
give account of it in the day of judgment. 12:37 For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
We must not bow to pressure/Now
Lebanon//October 4/10
Tension between Hariri, Hezbollah
reaches all-time high/By DAVID E. MILLER/
October 04/10
Escalating Sectarian Conflicts/Asharq Alawsat/October
04/10
Walid Jumblatt in a new mockary
statement/Lebanese National News Agency/October 04/10
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for
October 04/10
March 14 ministers agree
that Syrian arrest warrants are unacceptable/Now Lebanon
Gemayel condemns “warrants
to arrest Lebanese-Syrian relations/Now Lebanon
Hamadeh: Syrian Arrest Warrants
Equal to 'Zero'/Naharnet
Geagea
on Arrest Warrants: It is a Shocking Syrian Attack on Lebanese Institutions/Naharnet
The
Independent Gathering: Syrian acceptance of Sayyed’s lawsuit is a disgrace,
Independent Gathering says/Now Lebanon
Harb:
Arrests Ordered by Syria Insult to Lebanon, Government
/Naharnet
Jumblat
Meets Syrian Ambassador: Tackling False Witnesses Purifies Beirut-Damascus Ties,
Guilty Must be Punished/Naharnet
Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon stirs controversy/Ynetnews
Syria issues arrest warrants over
Hariri probe/AFP
Ahmadinejad’s visit begins a new
stage, Mottaki says/Now Lebanon
Fneish seeks "truth behind STL"/iloubnan.info
Widening arc of uncertainty/GulfNews
Civilian air traffic between Egypt and Iran renewed after more than 30 year/Haaretz
SSNP official rules out civil war but predicts the government will fall/Ya
Libnan
STL indictment is impacting arms sales in Lebanon/Ya Libnan
Lebanese
Factions Trade Accusations over Arms Distribution and Training of
Militias/Asharq Al-Awsat
Saqr
Says Arrest Warrants a Blow to Hariri-Syria Relation/Naharnet
Russian Ambassador Meets Hariri: We
Support the Tribunal, Our Position Hasn't Changed/Naharnet
Analysts: Lebanon Heading toward Crisis over Hariri Case/Naharnet
Jamaa Islamiya: Sidon
Cannot be against Resistance when it is the Maker of Resistance/Naharnet
Russian Ambassador Meets
Hariri: We Support the Tribunal, Our Position Hasn't Changed/Naharnet
Hizbullah Meets Maronite
Council: Indictment Portraying Us as 'Monsters'/Naharnet
Fayez Shukur Reelected
Baath Party Leader/Naharnet
Muallem
Calls on Lebanese to Work Together 'in Line with Beirut Summit Outcome'/Naharnet
Hamadeh: Syrian Arrest
Warrants Equal to 'Zero'/Naharnet
Harb: Arrests Ordered by
Syria Insult to Lebanon, Government/Naharnet
Geagea on Arrest Warrants:
It is a Shocking Syrian Attack on Lebanese Institutions/Naharnet
Cabinet Convenes Today in
Wake of Arrest Warrants, Discussion of Najjar's Report Unlikely/Naharnet
Mottaki: Lebanon Stability
a 'Gift' Everyone Benefits from/Naharnet
Hariri Quarter 'Shocked'
at Arrest Warrants: A Direct Political Message with No Legal Value/Naharnet
Sayyed: Syrian Judiciary
Has Issued 33 Arrest Warrants in Absentia in False Witnesses Case/Naharnet
Saqr Says Arrest Warrants
a Blow to Hariri-Syria Relation/Naharnet
Muallem Calls on Lebanese
to Work Together 'in Line with Beirut Summit Outcome'/Naharnet
Israel Warns Lebanon:
Ahmadinejad's Visit Could Spark Tension/Naharnet
Lebanese Factions Trade Accusations over Arms Distribution and Training of
Militias
01/10/2010/By Paula Astatih/Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat – Reports in Lebanon have claimed that
foreign parties have begun to supply Lebanese militias with arms and equipment,
and that some militiamen have even received training in Egypt and Jordan. Former
MP Nasser Qandil, who is affiliated to Hezbollah, has made claimed that Lebanese
Forces militia are being trained in Sharm el-Sheikh, and that 70 Lebanese Forces
militiamen received training in Jordan. The Lebanese Forces released a statement
categorically denying these accusations, saying that "it is now new to the
Lebanese to hear lies and fabrications from Nasser Qandil" and that the party
intends to file a lawsuit against him. The reports that foreign parties are
attempting to exert influence within Lebanon through distributing arms and even
training militias in neighboring Arab countries have come against the backdrop
of the controversy surrounding the Hariri tribunal, and Hezbollah's opposition
to it. Asharq Al-Awsat also learnt that these reports center upon the Lebanese
city of Tripoli. Tripoli, of course, was the Lebanese city that witnessed bloody
sectarian clashes between the [Shiite] Alawites who are centered in Jabal Mohsen
and Sunni militia in the Bab al-Tabana area. Informed sources in the Lebanese
city of Tripoli told Asharq Al-Awsat that "vast quantities of arms are
available, but the last thing that a citizen of Tripoli needs today is a weapon
because he well knows that in the event of a political decision causing the
Lebanese street to explode, a weapon will be in every side's hand and pointed in
every direction."
Lebanese opposition sources also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that "there is a new
unfamiliar phenomenon that is being invoked to incite sectarianism, the most
prominent examples of which can be seen broadcast on satellite television, where
some satellite channels are denouncing Sunnis as unbelievers, and others are
denouncing Shiites as unbelievers, with the objective of inciting sectarianism
and bringing the situation to a head." A Future Movement source, speaking to
Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, said that "everybody knows which
party is the armed front that has resorted to using the language of threats and
intimidation and which side is the defenseless party that is trying to implement
justice."
Whilst the political relations officer of the Arab Democratic Party, Rifat Ali
Eid, told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the northern capital Tripoli is prepared for the
expected clashes and is waiting for a political decision." He added that "all
signs confirm that we will face ruin trouble because blatant outside
interference [in Lebanese affairs] is provoking sectarianism in order to incite
the Lebanese arena, beginning with Tripoli."Rifat Ali Eid, who is the son of
Arab Democratic Party leader, Ali Eid, accused both Egypt and Jordan of
"sectarian incitement and supporting a project against Arabism and the
resistance." He added that "northern Lebanon has the highest proportion of
Salafists and fundaments in the entire Middle East region" warning that "the
Salafist project is not just a danger to Lebanon alone, but also to Europe."
Rifat Ali Eid also said that "we have information that confirms that some
Salafists are training in northern Lebanon, and following this are transported
to Cyprus, then Greece, and then on to European capital, to carry out their
terrorist plans."
Eid told Asharq Al-Awsat that "we are facing the birth of a new sect, and this
might be a difficult birth that is preceded by war." He added that "in the end,
one project will be defeated in favor of the other."Commenting on these
accusations, official Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki told
Asharq Al-Awsat that "it is well known who is behind such statements and their
motivations; we do not deal with such statements."
Gemayel
condemns “warrants to arrest Lebanese-Syrian relations”
Now Lebanon/October 4, 2010 /Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel said Monday that
Syria’s new arrest warrants in former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed’s
case are “more like warrants to arrest Lebanese-Syrian relations,” according to
a statement issued by the Kataeb. Syria on Sunday issued 33 arrest warrants
against judges, officers, politicians and journalists of Lebanese, Arab and
other nationalities named in a December 2009 lawsuit Sayyed filed in Damascus.
Sayyed was arrested in 2005 on suspicion of involvement in former Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri’s assassination and was released in 2009 due to lack of evidence.
His lawsuit charges that he was the victim of a conspiracy of false
testimonies.The Kataeb statement condemned the warrants as a “direct threat to
Lebanese legitimacy, the parliament, and the Lebanese
judicial-political-security body” and said that they contradict Lebanese and
international laws and conventions. The state and especially the cabinet is
responsible for responding to the development, which comes after Lebanon made
significant efforts to improve relations with Syria, the statement also said.
The Kataeb will not be swayed from its quest for the truth about the murder of
its martyrs because “justice is stronger than truth,” the statement added.
The statement also expressed approval of an exceptional session of the national
dialogue if President Michel Sleiman considers it necessary. -NOW Lebanon
the Independent Gathering: Syrian acceptance of Sayyed’s lawsuit is a disgrace,
Independent Gathering says
October 4, 2010 /Even Syria’s “mere acceptance of a Lebanese person’s lawsuit
against other Lebanese for a crime he alleges took place on Lebanese territory
is a disgraceful interference in the internal affairs of the Lebanese state,”
the Independent Gathering said in a statement issued on Monday. Syria on Sunday
issued 33 arrest warrants against judges, officers, politicians and journalists
of Lebanese, Arab and other nationalities named in a December 2009 lawsuit
former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed filed in Damascus. Sayyed was
arrested in 2005 on suspicion of involvement in former Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri’s assassination and was released in 2009 due to lack of evidence. His
lawsuit charges that he was the victim of a conspiracy of false testimonies. The
arrest warrants undermine Lebanese state institutions and violate the country’s
sovereignty, the statement added.-NOW Lebanon
We must not bow to pressure
October 4, 2010 /Now Lebanon
In all likelihood, the 2011 state budget clause related to Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL) funding will be discussed at Monday’s cabinet session. It is
expected that March 8 ministers will not only oppose the clause but also call
for the total abolition of the court that was established by the UN to set a
precedent in bringing to justice the perpetrators of political violence.
In a country where the waters are traditionally muddy, visibility is today down
to zero. The campaign to undermine the government is gathering speed and could
very well reach a dénouement this week. It is no coincidence that over the
weekend, presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Bashar al-Assad of Syria
reaffirmed their mutual support with the latter’s visit to Tehran, while at the
same time, a Syrian court issued arrest warrants against 33 individuals,
including former Lebanese ministers, judges, security officials and journalists,
as well as Detlev Mehlis, former head of the UN commission investigating ex-PM
Rafik Hariri's murder, the crime for which the court was initially established.
It was a move that Labor Minister Boutros Harb says was “an insult to the
Lebanese and Lebanon’s constitutional institutions.” In light of such
developments, it would be incautious to consider the guarantees made at the July
30 summit between King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and President Assad as set in
stone.
The good news is that cabinet ministers aligned with President Michel Sleiman
will vote in favor of the clause. This is crucial, but nonetheless, the pressure
on Saad Hariri’s government is today considerable. In all cases, it is important
that the government hold its nerve. In the event of an escalation of the crisis
and the veiled threat of violence, the opposition will in all likelihood not
unleash its gunmen onto the streets. Not only will it find it has no one to
fight, but such a move will simply highlight the opposition’s rejection of state
institutions. And it is to these institutions that the government of Prime
Minister Saad Hariri must resort if he is to win his latest standoff with the
March 8 opposition.
He must invoke the authority of the judiciary, the security services and the
army, and he must stress the legitimacy of the United Nations Security Council
resolutions that have been passed to protect and build Lebanese sovereignty.
He must also reinforce the notion that the aim of the tribunal is not to pick on
one political party or to expose one sect. Its objective is to strengthen the
idea that justice can and will prevail in a country (and region) where killing –
political or otherwise – has largely gone unpunished for decades and where the
rule of the gun has so often stopped nations such as Lebanon from taking their
place in the modern international community, one in which the ideas of justice
and individual rights are enshrined.
For the government to step down in the face of threats of violence would not be
doing the people of Lebanon a favor. It would merely turn back the clock to a
time when the country’s fractured sectarian makeup was exploited for short-term
regional gains. Any capitulation would be acknowledging this dynamic instead of
standing up for the new vision of Lebanon, one that is both reflected in the
objectives of the STL and one for which 1 million people took to the streets on
March 14, 2005 and for which dozens of Lebanese subsequently gave their lives as
those opposed to the idea of a new Lebanon sought to wrench it from our very
hands. The majority of Lebanese will not tolerate an armed coup d’état. We
already know that alternative funding for the STL can be found if Lebanon
cannot, for whatever reason, pay, so it is incumbent upon the government to not
bow to pressure. The state is still very much alive, and its offices should be
used to resist those who would seek to destroy them.
March 14 ministers agree that Syrian arrest warrants are unacceptable
October 4, 2010 /March 14 ministers held a meeting before Monday evening’s
cabinet session and agreed that the arrest warrants issued by Syria are
“unacceptable and illegal, in both legal or diplomatic terms,” NOW Lebanon’s
correspondent reported.Syria on Sunday issued 33 arrest warrants against judges,
officers, politicians and journalists of Lebanese, Arab and other nationalities
named in a December 2009 lawsuit former General Security chief Sayyed filed in
Damascus. Sayyed was arrested in 2005 on suspicion of involvement in the Hariri
assassination and was released in 2009 due to lack of evidence. His lawsuit
charges that he was the victim of a conspiracy of false testimonies.-NOW Lebanon
Geagea on Arrest Warrants: It is a Shocking Syrian Attack on Lebanese
Institutions
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized the arrest warrants
issued by Syria against a number of Lebanese individuals in false witnesses
case, saying that the Syrian judiciary does not have jurisdiction in this matter
because the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri took place on
Lebanese soil. "Never in Syria's history has its judiciary issued a warrant
against an individual from another country," he told the daily An Nahar Monday.
"This is not the way to reward President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Saad
Hariri for all their efforts in building ties between Lebanon and Syria," he
said. Geagea noted, "The names that have been summoned draw a picture of a
shocking Syrian attack on Lebanese institutions and a number of individuals."
Syria has attacked Lebanon's general prosecution, the government commission at
the military court, General Security chief, a number of officers who are
effective in combating terrorism, and "one of our most prominent MPs, Marwan
Hamadeh," he continued. He also wondered if it was a coincidence that the
warrants were issued ahead of Monday's Cabinet session aimed at discussing
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar's mechanism to address false witnesses case.
Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 08:42
Syria's Ambassador: Warrants have No Effect on Assad-Hariri Ties
Naharnet/Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali on Monday said arrest warrants
ordered by Syria against 33 people over false testimony given in the U.N.-backed
probe into the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri "have no effect" on relations
between Syrian President Bashar Assad and Prime Minister Saad Hariri. "The
arrest warrants are a pure judicial matter and not related to bilateral
relationship between Mr. Hariri and Syria," Ali told reporters following a
meeting with Druze leader Walid Jumblat in Clemenceau. When asked what the
impact was given that the arrest warrants include Wissam al-Hasan, who acts as
liaison between Hariri and the Syrian leadership, he said: "I don't think this
issue is mixed with other cards. Things are purely judicial. " Beirut, 04 Oct
10, 12:34
Rifi:
Interpol Won't Act on Syria's Arrest Warrants
Naharnet/Police chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi on Monday said Interpol would not
execute arrest warrants ordered by Syria against 33 people, including Lebanese
individuals, because they are politically motivated. He pointed out that in the
past, Syria had issued an arrest warrant against Progressive Socialist Party
leader MP Walid Jumblat that Interpol had ignored to because it had political
aims. The warrants, issued on Sunday, were over false testimony given in the
U.N.-backed probe into the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. Maj. Gen. Jamil
Sayyed, former head of Lebanon's General Security Department, said the top
investigating judge in Damascus had issued arrest warrants "against judges,
security officers, politicians, journalists and other Lebanese, Arab and foreign
officials and individuals." Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 09:49
Harb: Arrests Ordered by Syria Insult to Lebanon, Government
Naharnet/Labor Minister Butros Harb on Monday described as an "insult" to
Lebanon and the Government the arrest warrants issued by Syria against 33 people
over false testimony given in the U.N.-backed probe into Hariri's assassination.
"Issuance of Syrian arrest warrants against Lebanese and Arab figures has a
serious political dimension," Harb told Future television.
"We cannot take this issue lightly," he stressed. Cabinet now has "three
problems" to tackle, Harb said: State budget, false witnesses and the arrest
warrants. Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, former head of Lebanon's General Security
department, on Sunday said the top investigating judge in Damascus had issued
arrest warrants "against judges, security officers, politicians, journalists and
other Lebanon, Arab and foreign officials and individuals." "What prevents Syria
one day to issue an arrest warrant against the (Lebanese) President?" Harb
asked, adding that there is no legal interpretation to the issue which he
considered a violation of the rule of law. Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 11:17
Analysts: Lebanon Heading toward Crisis over Hariri Case
Naharnet/Lebanon is facing a full-blown crisis as tensions over a U.N.-probe
into the murder of its ex-premier mount with Syria, and a standoff between rival
parties escalates, analysts warned on Monday. The crisis which has been brewing
for weeks is linked to unconfirmed reports the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, or
STL, is set to accuse members of Hizbullah of being implicated in the 2005
assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri. Syria added fuel to the fire on Sunday
by issuing arrest warrants against 33 people, among them several Lebanese
officials, over alleged false testimony given in the case. "The situation has
taken a dangerous turn and the arrest warrants can be likened to a pressure
cooker that has had its lid blown off," said Hilal Khashan, political science
professor at the American University of Beirut. "There is really nothing to stop
things from escalating further," he added. "The road ahead is very bumpy and
it's clear that the Syrians want the Lebanese government to discredit the STL
and to stop cooperating with the court." Paul Salem, the director of the
Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, said he expects strains between Hizbullah
and Prime Minister Saad Hariri -- son of the slain ex-premier -- to worsen and
the real trouble to start after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits
Lebanon October 13 and 14. "I think that ahead of Ahmadinejad's visit, the
situation will remain relatively calm because Hizbullah does not want to
sabotage the visit," Salem told Agence France Presse. "The escalation will
likely start after the visit," he said. "The war of words will continue and then
be replaced by a paralysis of the government and institutions. "Finally we could
see street demonstrations and road blocks coming up as was the case in the
past."
Salem was referring to the protracted political crisis that paralyzed the
Lebanese government for 18 months between November 2006 and May 2008 bringing
the country close to civil war.
That crisis was resolved following Qatari mediation that led to the formation of
a national unity government. Analysts said Monday it was clear the arrest
warrants issued by Syria, which along with Iran backs Hizbullah, were a message
to Hariri that he must make a concession on the STL. "The prime target of these
warrants is the tenant at the Grand Serail," said the Arabic-language daily Al-Akhbar,
referring to Hariri. But the Sunni premier, who in a stunning about-turn last
month said he was wrong to blame Damascus for his father's killing, has made
clear the issue of the tribunal was a red line he was not willing to cross.
There are fears that should the STL implicate Hizbullah, that could lead to a
sectarian conflict between Lebanon's Sunni and Shiite communities. "Saad Hariri
will not bend in this case and Hizbullah is not going to back off," said Rafiq
Khouri, editor-in-chief of the independent daily Al-Anwar.
"It's like a Greek tragedy where the heroes reach a point of no return and must
face their destiny," he added. "It's like two trains heading towards each other
and that will inevitably crash."(AFP) Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 17:05
Jumblat Meets Syrian Ambassador: Tackling False Witnesses Purifies
Beirut-Damascus Ties, Guilty Must be Punished
Naharnet/Druze leader Walid Jumblat on Monday tamped down the uproar over Syrian
arrest warrants issued for 33 people, including member of his Democratic
Gathering, MP Marwan Hamadeh. "No problem," he said in response to questions
regarding the arrest warrants issued by Syria on Sunday over false testimony
given in the U.N.-backed probe into the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri. Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, former head of Lebanon's General Security
Department, on Sunday said the top investigating judge in Damascus had issued
arrest warrants "against judges, security officers, politicians, journalists and
other Lebanese, Arab and foreign officials and individuals." Jumblat's remarks
were made following a meeting in Clemenceau with Syrian ambassador to Lebanon
Ali Abdul Karim Ali. When a reporter pointed out that the arrest warrants
included Hamadeh, Jumblat said: "No problem, no problem. "We have previously
mentioned, and Premier Hariri had stressed, that we must put an end to the issue
of false witnesses. And finally judicial authorities are dealing with the false
witnesses' issue," Jumblat said. "Let the guilty be punished and the innocent go
free," he added. The Syrian ambassador, for his part, said the issue of arrest
warrants was a "purely a judicial matter and not related to bilateral
relationship between Mr. Hariri and Syria." Later Monday, Jumblat said in his
weekly editorial in Al-Anbaa that "clarifying the circumstances relating to the
false witnesses' issue all the way to putting an end to this issue is necessary
for purifying Lebanese-Syrian ties." "Therefore, a quiet and technical
settlement to the this issue … is very important to find out the whole truth in
all its details," Jumblat wrote. "If anyone was proven guilty, then let him be
punished and if others were acquitted, then the truth would be uncovered without
and we would get out of this cycle," Jumblat added. Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 17:19
Jamaa Islamiya: Sidon Cannot be against Resistance when it is the Maker of
Resistance
Naharnet/Jamaa Islamiya political chief Bassam Hammoud on Monday stressed the
Islamic and national fundamental principles of his group and said "dialogue" is
the only solution to the ongoing International Tribunal crisis. Hammoud, during
a consultative meeting in Dar el-Fatwa with Sidon's Mufti, also stressed the
need to resort to "rational language all the way to ease tension in the streets
in order to spare the country and the people any security shake-ups." He said
Sidon cannot be against the Resistance because it is "the maker of the
Resistance."
Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 16:45
Fayez Shukur Reelected Baath Party Leader
Naharnet/The Baath Arab Socialist Party – Lebanon branch on Monday reelected
Fayez Shukur as its leader. A statement issued by the party's extraordinary
meeting stressed on Lebanon's unity and Arabism. The statement also stressed on
the need to confront "conspiracies" targeting Lebanon's security, stability and
civil peace. Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 15:25
Russian Ambassador Meets Hariri: We Support the Tribunal, Our Position Hasn't
Changed
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Monday at the Grand Serail with
Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Serguei Boukin, in the presence of the premier's
advisors Mohammed Shatah and George Shaaban. "I wished Lebanon every success in
facing all the difficulties that it encounters from time to time. I also wished
prosperity and happiness to the Lebanese government and people," said Boukin
after the meeting. Asked whether Russia had any fears regarding the local
developments in Lebanon, the ambassador said: "I don't see that there is any
fear. We see from time to time some difficulties that arise due to some
unfortunate incidents. But as I said before, we always rely on the flexibility
and political wisdom of the Lebanese people and the Lebanese political class,
who can always overcome all difficulties." As to his country's position
regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Boukin stated: "Our position is
still the same, without any change. Our principled position is known, and we
support the Tribunal and the honest, non-politicized and unbiased investigation
in the assassination of (ex-)Premier Rafik Hariri, in order to reveal the truth
behind all the terrorist acts committed in this country during the past years."
"All this so that the peaceful development of Lebanon would prevail, based on
national reconciliation and taking into consideration the interests of all
communities and political forces in Lebanon," he added. Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 16:09
Hizbullah Meets Maronite Council: Indictment Portraying Us as 'Monsters'
Naharnet/The General Maronite Council on Monday met with a Hizbullah delegation
and warned Lebanese against slipping into the "abyss" of sectarian fighting that
could torpedo internal stability. For his part, Hizbullah Political Council
member Ghaleb Abu Zainab said after the talks that leaks regarding the
International Tribunal indictment are portraying Hizbullah and Iran "as if we
are the monsters, not Israel." Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 15:36
Ahmadinejad’s visit begins a new stage, Mottaki says
October 4, 2010
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s upcoming visit to Lebanon is the
“beginning of a new stage of strategic cooperation between the two countries,”
the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki as saying on Monday after his meeting with Energy Minister
Gebran Bassil in Tehran. Ahmadinejad is expected to begin a two-day visit to
Lebanon on October 13.Lebanese-Iranian relations are strong, and Iran wants to
increase cooperation in tourism and business, Mottaki added.
Bassil also met with Ahmadinejad earlier on Monday, IRNA added. -NOW Lebanon
Walid Jumblatt
October 4, 2010
On October 3, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following report:
The head of the Democratic Gathering Bloc Deputy Walid Jumblatt conducted a tour
in the villages of Alley… In Btater, Jumblatt said: “Thank you for your
reception in Btater after such a long time, as one family in one home, and
congratulations on your new municipality which I hope will proceed down the
developmental path inaugurated by the predecessor Fawzi Gharizi…
“There are heavy clouds looming on the horizon and there is no shame in stating
our opinion honestly and clearly. When we make a mistake, we recognize it, and
when we see the mistakes of others, we point them out. We did our duty when we
opened the road from Damascus to Beirut together, along with the path of the
resistance toward the South, the Iqlim [al-Kharroub] and Beirut and deterred the
Israeli invasion in 1982. It is from these locations that the road was opened.
“After March 14, we accused Syria of being behind the assassinations, but based
on what? A key witness based on whose testimony international investigator
Mehlis wrote his first report. You should see this report on the Internet and
detect all the lies and misleading [that are] its features. Later on, it turned
out that the latter was a false witness but we had already issued countless
accusations.
“A year ago, we adopted steps to protect the country, the Arab identity of Mount
Lebanon, the clan and political geography, which is why we cannot continue
making these accusations. A year ago and specifically in August, we said:
Enough! We returned to the origins, to the sources and the heritage. We return
to the key location which is Syria… The exceptional relations with Syria are
primordial to us and we returned [to them]. Others did not. Is it just toward
Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri for new blood to flow today? Not at all. What is
the value of justice in regard to Rafik al-Hariri and all the other martyrs if -
god forbid – new blood were to flow on Lebanese soil? This would make justice go
to waste... I say it today: If the international tribunal will cause bloodshed
in Lebanon once again, we do not need an international tribunal. Yes, we do not
need the international tribunal…
“When I called on you to perform your duty, you did your best to defend unity,
existence and the Arab identity. Today however, what is required is the utmost
calm because we want to undermine strife and nip it in the bud. We support all
the sides in order to undermine strife and corroborate coexistence between the
Muslims and the Christians in Lebanon. We call on those delivering fiery
speeches to shut up and let the wise control the game. We cannot continue like
this. We must be calm and must resort to the state. The road is long and much
more dangerous than the stage in which the Israeli tanks were close. The current
situation is much more serious but we can protect ourselves and the neighbor,
regardless of who this neighbor is, through calm, discipline and awareness.
Thank you for your reception and we hope to hold more meetings. In the meantime,
beware of rash behavior...”
In Sawfar, Jumblatt stated: “I made many difficult decisions in my life and one
of them was the decision to leave Beirut. This was the right decision because I
saw the Arab and Syrian depth. Maybe a year ago, I also took a difficult but
necessary decision. During the Socialist Party’s meeting on August 2, we pointed
the situation in the right direction in order to protect Lebanon and its Arab
identity and confirm our joint struggle which started here from Sawfar. I am
talking about our joint struggle with the Syrian Arab army and the resistance
fighters in all the national and Islamic parties. I am not trying to stir the
wounds, rather to relate what happened in the past.
There is also the protection of our modest faction which is a small Arab tribe
spread between here and Syria, east of Jordan and occupied Palestine…”
He then headed to the town of Bedghan, where he said: “… Today, we will talk
about the basic issue. Although we are a minority in terms of numbers, we must
seek concord between the different parties in this country. We say yes to
justice if produced far away from politicization but what does justice mean if
it produces blood and strife? We say yes to the arms of the resistance for the
defense of Lebanon. But beware of seeing parts of these arms drowning in the
alleyways of Beirut. This would neither serve the resistance nor the Lebanese.
With whom are we? We are with the Sunnis, the Shia and the Christians to reach
peace, undermine strife and secure love and coexistence. We will not be with one
team against the other. We are with all the sides to undermine strife. In our
region, we succeeded in reaching reconciliation with Patriarch Sfeir and hope
that the other parties, Sayyed Hassan and Sheikh Saad al-Hariri, will draw the
lessons from the historic reconciliation in 2001 and from you in Bedghan in
terms of solidarity, love and coordination.”
Tension between Hariri, Hezbollah reaches all-time high
By DAVID E. MILLER
THE MEDIA LINE
Published: Oct 3, 2010 22:02 Updated: Oct 3, 2010 22:02
BEIRUT: At least 15 four-wheel drive vehicles, license plates covered, stormed
Beirut's International Rafik Al-Hariri airport on Saturday. Out of the vehicles
jumped armed Hezbollah members and other supporters of a Lebanese ex-security
official, who had just arrived on a flight from Paris.
The Hezbollah gunmen surrounded Gen. (ret.) Jamil Sayyed as he spoke to press at
the airport, escorting him home at the end of the event.
Sayyed, the former head of Lebanon's General Security, was arrested in 2005 and
held in jail for nearly four years without charge for involvement in the 2005
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. "The Beirut airport was
turned into one of Hezbollah's security quarters," an anonymous member of
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri March 14 Alliance told the Arab daily Sharq
Al-Awsat. "This dangerously revealed airport security."
"Seeing the airport incident, it is clear that Hezbollah has decided to attack
the regime," Ghazi Youssef, a Parliament member in Hariri's Al-Mustaqbal
(Movement of the Future) bloc told The Media Line. "Hezbollah believes this is
part of the democratic game, but what was done was a breach of the law. There
are limits to freedom of expression.
Mohammad Shatah, a former Lebanese minister, was less diplomatic. "The airport
scene was surreal. Lebanese could have never seen such a sight in any other
country in the world."
But clearly more than airport security is now at stake in Lebanon. Before
leaving for Paris on Sept. 12, Sayyed called Prime Minster Hariri a liar and
urged the Lebanese to topple his government. Upon his return to Beirut, again
Sayyed did not mince his words. This time, he attacked State Prosecutor Said
Mirza, who called him in for questioning following his threatening statements.
"Mirza is supposed to be a public prosecutor - i.e. neutral - but considering
these lawsuits, he became my personal adversary," Lebanon's Daily Star quoted
Sayyed as saying.
The issue of "false witnesses" has become a main point of contention for Sayyed
and his supporters in Hezbollah. The term refers to Lebanese legal and security
officials who testified before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is
investigating the assassination of Hariri. Prime Minister Hariri recently
rescinded his accusation of Syria as primarily responsible for his father's
assassination in an interview with the Sharq Al-Awsat, acknowledging the
existence of false witnesses.
However, on Monday, Hariri reiterated his support for the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon, defying Hezbollah's demand that Lebanon officially accuse Israel of the
murder.
Professor Eugène Sensenig-Dabbous, chairman of the Political Science department
at Lebanon's Notre-Dame University, said that Hariri's overture toward Syria was
implicitly implicating Hezbollah. "If Syria isn't involved in the assassination,
who is?" he rhetorically asked in an interview with The Media Line. "It's
looking more and more like Hezbollah was involved in the assassinations that
took place in 2005." Sensenig-Dabbous predicted a re-alignment of powers, with
Hariri's March 14 Alliance drawing closer to Syria, leaving Hezbollah isolated
with Iran.
"I don't know if a partnership with Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement and
Iran will be enough for Hezbollah," Sensenig-Dabbous said. Samir Al-Sa'adawi, a
Beirut-based journalist at the Arab daily Al-Hayyat, said that tensions in
Lebanon would likely intensify rather than calm down. "The situation is tense,
and is only escalating," he told The Media Line. "I don't know if the regional
players, Syria and Saudi Arabia, can stop the escalation - if not, we're facing
more trouble."
Widening arc of uncertainty
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/widening-arc-of-uncertainty-1.691113
Sectarian strife, Washington's dwindling influence and the Iran factor threaten
to push the region into an abyss
By Abdullah Al Shayji, Special to Gulf News
Published: 00:00 October 4, 2010
The Middle East peace process is stuck once again due to Israeli intransigence
and the US failing to live up to its promises.
Image Credit: Illustration: Nino Jose Heredia/©Gulf News
From the Mediterranean shores to the mountains of Afghanistan and everywhere in
between seems to be in a state of flux. There is a grim possibility of a
breakdown of the regional security system with scenarios of more than one war
threatening to push the region into an abyss.
It seems we are approaching a boiling point in our beleaguered region. There is
a siege mentality due to domestic tensions, turmoil and the heightened sectarian
strife which has emerged in more than one country from Iraq to Lebanon and Egypt
to Kuwait and Bahrain lately.
There is a real fear that a breakdown of this precarious tense climate could
spiral out of control. Elsewhere, Pakistan is also teetering on the brink of
collapse, an alarming situation considering that Pakistan is a nuclear power.
Afghanistan is another hotbed of turmoil and instability considering how the US
and its Nato allies are bogged down in a quagmire with no end in sight. It was
heartbreaking to see the Afghan president crying and dispirited the other day
because of the sorry state of affairs in his country.
Iraq is in its seventh month of political paralysis and there is no end in sight
to the horse-trading and jockeying for power. Iraq has broke the world record in
its attempt to form a cabinet. A solution won't come from Baghdad, but from
Tehran which has invested heavily in Iraq and from Washington whose influence is
dwindling. It is ironic, that both these powers seem to back Prime Minister
Nouri Al Maliki for a second term. After all these years, Iraq's sovereignty
still hangs in the balance.
The Middle East peace process is stuck once again due to Israeli intransigence
and the US failing to live up to its promises. Stephen Waltz criticises the US
for reaching "a new low in the Middle East diplomacy" and laments the US policy
of rewarding Israel with more carrots instead of the brandishing the stick.
Failure to achieve a breakthrough
I have repeatedly argued in this column that a failure to achieve a breakthrough
in this vexing crisis would impact negatively on all other flashpoints,
complicate the tense situation, embolden US enemies, embarrass the US's moderate
allies in the region and further sink the US's image in a region where
anti-Americanism is n ot in short supply.
It's ironic that US policy-makers and the military, think-tanks, academics and
polls all indicate and warn about the negative impact of not having a lasting
and comprehensive peace, but it is baffling that the US keeps squandering all
its chances to heal this festering wound.
Tensions are mounting between Israel and Hezbollah while Lebanon is in the
intensive care unit over the UN international tribunal which seems to indict
elements of Hezbollah for the assassination of former prime minister Rafik
Hariri in 2005.
Lebanon is wearily wedged between a devastating war with Israel and a sectarian
blowout between Hezbollah forces and the Sunnis over the Hariri tribunal's
forthcoming verdict. In the Lebanese press, Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon has sparked alarming reports of Hezbollah
planning to take over the whole country.
In all this, Iran is facing crushing United Nations sanctions. With more energy
and other companies pulling out of Iran, the uncertain situation is pushing
regional states to scramble for unprecedented arms deals.
The Gulf Cooperation Council states finding themselves between Iran, Iraq and a
hard place, have opted to boost their military arsenals to protect themselves
from any escalation of tension in the Gulf region.
The possibility of a showdown with Iran is the driving factor behind these huge
military deals. The Financial Times said "Gulf states are ramping up arms
expenditure with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Oman all set to spend a total of
$123 billion on US arms. And the US and the Saudi Arabia will establish a long
military partnership between the two countries".
One can cut the tense atmosphere and apprehension in the region with a knife.
There is a great deal of apprehension among the elite and among academics and
among ordinary people who see the Iranians' imprint all over the place.
Al Watan, the leading Kuwaiti newspaper, described the "Fear of Shiite Iran has
reached new heights in the Gulf's Sunni-led Arab states, where arms deals worth
$122.8 billion have been signed with US companies. From Kuwait to Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia, Iran's widening political and military influence is raising
tension within local Shiite communities and provoking what some analysts see as
exaggerated fears."
Modernising armed forces
Saudi Arabia has embarked on a huge $67 billion drive to modernise its armed
forces with everything from jets to armoured vehicles and frigates. The UAE is
spending more than $35 billion to strengthen its military, adding up to 80
Rafale fighters to its sizeable air force. There is no letdown in this region,
the worst-case scenarios could blow out at any time. The unintended consequences
would be extremely destabilising considering the US preoccupation with its
mid-term election. Washington's perceived dwindling posture and influence could
entice its detractors and opponents to seize the opportunity in a grossly
miscalculated move which would prove to be very costly. There is a sense of
fatalism in the region, with an appropriate motto ‘Prepare for the worst and
pray it won't happen!' We hope so!
**Dr Abdullah Al Shayji is the Chairman of the Political Science Department at
Kuwait University.
Egypt and Iran resume direct civilian flights after 30 year hiatus
Haaretz/Published 20:12 03.10.10
http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/egypt-and-iran-resume-direct-civilian-flights-after-30-year-hiatus-1.316970
'Egypt and Iran are the lungs of the Middle East and the two can't breathe
without each other', Iran official tells Egyptian newspaper.
Tags: Iran Egypt Israel news
Egyptian and Iranian airlines agreed Sunday to resume direct flights between the
two countries for the first time since 1979, when Tehran severed ties because
Egypt made peace with Israel and gave asylum to the shah deposed in the Islamic
Revolution. Iran has an uneasy relationship with U.S.-allied Arab nations such
as Egypt, which are concerned about Tehran's growing influence in the Middle
East, suspicions over its nuclear ambitions, and its support for radical Islamic
groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. "Egypt and Iran are the lungs of the Middle
East and the two can't breathe without each other," Shahbaz Yazdani, an Iranian
cultural official, told the independent Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm on
Friday.
The head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority Sameh al-Hafni said that
according to the new agreement, 28 flights regulated by a privately owned
company called Egyptian Mission will carry travelers between the capitals of the
two countries weekly. Rami Lakah, owner of Egyptian Mission, said the contract
with Iranian counterpart Kish Air is for eight years. There was no word on when
flights would begin. The deal was part of increased commercial dealings between
the two countries but so far, that has not translated into renewal of diplomatic
relations between them. Last December, hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
repeated an offer to open an embassy in Cairo. But Egypt canceled a planned
visit to Cairo last month by Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, to
protest his criticism of Arab leaders for attending the new round of Mideast
peace talks in Washington.
Egypt has maintained that normal ties with Iran would come only after Iran
stopped meddling in internal affairs of Arab countries. It has also demanded
that Iran take down a large mural in Tehran of former Egyptian President Anwar
Sadat's assassin, Khaled el-Islambouli, and change the name of a street honoring
him.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
1 October 2010
AI Index: PRE01/332/2010
Saudi Arabian King urged to commute “sorcery” death sentences
Amnesty International has written to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia urging him to
commute death sentences imposed on two men convicted of “sorcery”.
Lebanese national ‘Ali Hussain Sibat and ‘Abdul Hamid bin Hussain bin Moustafa
al-Fakki, from Sudan, are both sentenced to death on this controversial charge,
which has been used to punish people for exercising their right to freedom of
expression.
In a letter to King Abdullah sent on Thursday, Amnesty International called on
him to show clemency in both cases. If the death sentences are upheld after
appeal, they will be referred to the King for final ratification.
“Two men are at imminent risk of facing the ultimate cruel and inhuman
punishment without having committed anything that would appear to constitute a
crime,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the
Middle East and North Africa.
The “sorcery” charges against ‘Ali Sibat relate to his former role as a
presenter on the Lebanese satellite TV station Sheherazade, in which he gave
advice and predictions about the future.
He was sentenced to death by a Madina court on 9 November 2009, following his
arrest by the Mutawa’een (religious police) in May 2008 while he was visiting
Saudi Arabia on a form of Muslim pilgrimage, the umra .
‘Ali Sibat was given no legal representation or assistance during the trial
hearings. His case is now before the Court of Appeal in Makkah for further
review.
‘Ali Sibat’s lawyer in Lebanon told Amnesty International today: “[Lebanese]
Prime Minister Saad Hariri spoke to his wife and promised that he would be home
soon. But nothing has happened.” She is nonetheless continuing to campaign for
his release.
‘Abdul Hamid al-Fakki, 36, was arrested in December 2005 in Madina by members of
the Mutawa’een.
He was accused of practising sorcery after a man working for the Mutawa’een
entrapped him by asking him to produce a spell that would lead to the man’s
father leaving his second wife.
‘Abdul Hamid al-Fakki apparently said he would do this in exchange for 6,000
Saudi Arabian riyals (approximately US$1,600). Following his arrest, he was
questioned, apparently beaten, and is believed to have confessed to carrying out
acts of “sorcery”.
He was sentenced to death by the General Court in Madina in March 2007. He had
no legal assistance and very little is known about his trial proceedings as they
were held in secret.
‘Abdul Hamid al-Fakki’s brother told Amnesty International that he was “a very
gentle man” and that their parents, both suffering from poor health, were
tormented by the death sentence hanging over him. “How could they do something
like this to him?” he said.
The detention of the two men on vague “sorcery” charges also contravenes
international human rights standards by punishing forms of expression that,
while unusual, have been peaceful.
“‘Ali Sibat and ‘Abdul Hamid al-Fakki must be immediately and unconditionally
released if the acts for which they have been convicted amount to no more than
the legitimate, peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and
religion,” said Philip Luther.
The crime of “sorcery” is not defined in Saudi Arabian law. However, the
authorities have arrested scores of people on “sorcery” charges in recent years.
The last known execution of someone charged with such an offence was that of
Egyptian national Mustafa Ibrahim on 2 November 2007. He was convicted of
“sorcery” and “witchcraft” for allegedly casting spells to attempt to separate a
married couple.
The Saudi Arabian authorities resumed executions this month following the end of
the moratorium that was in place during the Islamic month of Ramadan.
At least 158 people were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2007 and at least 102 in
2008. In 2009, at least 69 people are known to have been executed, including 19
foreign nationals. Since the beginning of 2010, at least 19 people have been
executed.
Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London,
UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: press@amnesty.org
International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW,
UK www.amnesty.org