Officials from across the political spectrum, lauded Tuesday an unprecedented operation, in which security forces...
BEIRUT: Prime Minister Tammam Salam Saturday sought to end a week-long controversy over comments made by Hezbollah's leader criticizing Bahrain over its crackdown on dissidents, saying the remarks did not represent the position of Lebanon.
“Any remarks made by a Lebanese political faction against Bahrain do not represent the official position of the Lebanese government,” Salam said in a statement released by his media office.
Lebanon’s official position on regional and international issues can only be voiced by the Lebanese government, he emphasized.
The Arab League publicly censured Lebanon in a statement two days ago over comments made by Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah in which he denounced Bahrain's recent arrest of the country's main political opposition leader Ali Salman and its crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
The Arab League deemed Nasrallah's remarks during a Jan. 9 speech a “repetitive interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain” and called on the Lebanese government to take clear stance on the issue.
According to Salam, Lebanon’s diverse political fabric allows for contrasting opinions and should not be used to justify any harm inflicted on Lebanon’s ties with allied states.
Lebanon’s insistence on curbing any interference in the affairs of other states, Salam added, stems from the reoccurrence of international and regional interferences in Lebanon’s own domestic issues.
He also expressed his confidence in Bahrain’s ability to overcome its political hurdles.
Bahrain has been in turmoil since 2011 when authorities, backed by a Saudi-led Gulf force, crushed a pro-democracy movement.
A backer of the uprising, Nasrallah in a speech last week accused the Bahraini government of being “tyrannical and oppressive.”
He also compared the Bahraini government’s behavior to the "Zionist project" which established Israel, accusing it of naturalizing Sunnis from across the region to change the country’s majority-Shiite demographic, who form the bulk of the opposition.
Nasrallah’s criticism led Bahrain to summon Lebanon's envoy over the speech earlier this week. The remarks also prompted a backlash from Bahrain’s foreign minister Friday who accused Lebanon of being controlled by a "terrorist agent,” in reference to Nasrallah.
The Sidon Municipality had pledged LL19 million ($12,600) in compensation to fishermen whose boats and equipment were...
Lebanon abides by the Arab League's call for non-interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs, Foreign Minister Gebran...
BEIRUT: Angry residents blocked Saturday the entrance to the controversial Naameh landfill and demanded the government shut it down, warning of more actions in the future.
Speaking to television reporters, a spokesperson for the protesters called on Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk to resign after failing to shut down the landfill, which was originally set for closure Saturday.
“You made us a promise and failed to keep it. Like several senior statesmen, you have failed in resolving a simple problem,” he said.
Other protesters expressed frustration with the environment minister, saying “we no longer trust you after today nor do we trust your promises or empty plans.”
The spokesperson also announced that another protest will be held at the dump on Jan. 31.
Security forces beefed up measures in and around the dump in an effort to prevent any escalation.
Residents and officials are at odds concerning the closure of the Naameh dump after Progressive Socialist Party head Walid Jumblatt, whose party enjoys wide support in the area, agreed to a three month extension for the landfill.
Though the agreement calls for a three-month long technical extension, protesters fear the landfill will not be closed down for another seven years.
If the protesters decide to permanently block the entrance to the dump as they had last year, the streets of Beirut and other parts of the country could again be drowned in garbage.
The contract between the government and Sukleen, the company responsible for sweeping and cleaning the streets of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, was set to expire Saturday.
The Naameh landfill was originally opened in 1997 to serve the Beirut and Mount Lebanon region. It was intended to close after six years but remains open 17 years later. The landfill now receives 2,850 tons of waste a day, five times its intended capacity.
The Naameh landfill was originally supposed to be closed on Jan. 17 but under the new plan the deadline has been extended by three months and could be pushed back by another three if no alternative is found.
President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Jan. 15, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
In this week's address, the President recounted the stories of letter writers from around the country who will be joining him when he delivers his annual State of the Union address this Tuesday: Carolyn, who was able to expand her small business through a Small Business Administration loan, and this year raised wages for their hourly employees; Jason, a wounded warrior who served in Afghanistan and is now back home with his wife and first daughter, born in November; and Victor, who affords his student loans with help from the Income Based Repayment Plan, and has health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act.
Stories like theirs are proof of the progress our country has made. The President encouraged everyone to tune in Tuesday evening to hear more about America’s comeback, and the steps we can take to ensure all Americans – not just a fortunate few – benefit from our American resurgence.
Transcript | mp4 | mp3
Audio for this story from Weekend Edition Saturday will be available at approximately 12:00 p.m. ET.
The 2016 Republican presidential field is getting crowded. Is the Democratic field already filled by one? NPR's Scott Simon talks presidential politics with politics editor Ron Elving.
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The school monitor of a south Lebanon technical institute was assaulted and beaten by unknown assailants Friday in...
BEIRUT: Lebanon abides by the Arab League's call for non-interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said in remarks published Saturday.
But he also criticized the body for publicly censuring Lebanon in a statement two days ago over comments made by Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah in which he denounced Bahrain's arrest of the country's main political opposition leader.
“Lebanon’s implicit position does not differ from that of Arab states as per the [Arab League] statement, with regards to non-interference in Bahraini affairs,” Bassil told Al-Nahar daily.
Bassil said his position stems largely from the need to protect Lebanese expats working in Bahrain, who could suffer if relations deteriorate between the two countries.
Since Lebanon’s official position falls in line with that of the Arab League, “then the Lebanese should not be punished for the positions of a certain group,” he said.
The Arab League on Thursday deemed Nasrallah's remarks during a Jan. 9 speech a “repetitive interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain” and called on the Lebanese government to take clear stance on the issue.
Despite stating Lebanon’s conformity with the Arab League’s position, Bassil criticized their approach to the issue.
Bassil, whose Free Patriotic Movement party is allied with Hezbollah, criticized the Arab League for resorting to public statements to express its grievances rather than directly dealing with the Lebanese government.
Bassil also said that he rejects the “issuance of a statement that expresses opposition to Lebanon or an opposition to a group of Lebanese.”
Bahrain has been in turmoil since 2011 when authorities, backed by a Saudi-led Gulf force, crushed a pro-democracy movement.
A backer of the uprising, Nasrallah in a speech last week accused the Bahraini government of being “tyrannical and oppressive.”
He also compared the Bahraini government’s behavior to the "Zionist project" which established Israel, accusing it of naturalizing Sunnis from across the region to change the country’s majority-Shiite demographic, who form the bulk of the opposition.
Nasrallah’s criticism led Bahrain to summon Lebanon's envoy over the speech earlier this week. The remarks also prompted a backlash from Bahrain’s foreign minister Friday who accused Lebanon of being controlled by a "terrorist agent,” in reference to Nasrallah.
Authorities Friday shut down more slaughterhouses, restaurants, supermarkets and other retailers selling contaminated...
BEIRUT: Internal Security Forces announced Saturday the arrest of two suspects involved in the murder of 27-year-old Yves Nawfal, as security forces pursue at least 10 more accused of helping the main attacker avoid arrest.
According to an ISF statement posted to Twitter, lead attacker Charbel Khalil and his accomplice Juliano Saade were arrested over an assault that killed Nawfal near a pub in the Kesrouan area of Ayoun al-Siman one week ago.
Earlier Saturday, the families of the two suspects issued a joint statement announcing that they had “voluntarily handed over” their two sons to security forces.
The families said that former minister Farid Haykal al-Khazen “signaled to the need to hand over our two sons to security forces in order for justice to prevail.”
The move comes three days after Khalil was arrested in the Baalbek town of Brital, in east Lebanon by a unit from the Internal Security Force’s Information Branch.
Security sources told The Daily Star that investigations are pursuing at least 10 suspects who are said to be involved in the murder.
Security forces have so far detained suspects who assisted in hiding Khalil. The accomplices were arrested in the Jbeil village of Lasa, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Ouzai suburb in Beirut as well as in the east Lebanon town of Brital, where Khalil was arrested earlier this week.
Security forces are pursuing remaining suspects accused of sheltering Khalil from arrest.
Khalil, who gave orders to shoot Nawfal over a personal dispute, had been on the run, his whereabouts unknown for five days since he attacked Nawfal.
Nawfal succumbed to his wounds last week. He was celebrating his birthday at a pub in Kfar Debian when he became involved in a brief fistfight with another group over an offhand comment made to a woman.
Nawfal’s lead attacker, Khalil who became especially aggravated after he was hit by a loose jab ordered his associates not let Nawfal get to Beirut alive.
Armed with a pistol and an automatic gun, the attackers sprayed the Subaru with bullets, leaving Nawfal heavily wounded from four shots.
Nawfal succumbed to his wounds last Saturday morning, while the perpetrators were still at large. A massive social media campaign demanding that the attackers be brought to justice ensued.
