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Suleiman Formed 'Crisis Cell' to Seek Exits to Current Crisis

President Michel Suleiman has formed something like a crisis cell to seek "necessary legal and political" exits to the current crisis over the International Tribunal indictment which is set to accuse Hizbullah in the 2005 assassination of former PM-Rafik Hariri.

As-Safir newspaper, which carried the report, said Friday that several proposals were being considered, in addition to almost daily consultation between Suleiman and Syria.

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Assiri Meets Franjieh: Comprehensive National Reconciliation Only Way to Protect Lebanon

Only the Lebanese can protect their country through achieving a national, brotherly, comprehensive and honest reconciliation that would allow them to solve all issues, achieve justice, solidify stability, turn the page on the past and provide a new hope for the new generation, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri said Thursday after meeting Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh in Bnashii.

"This is what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes Lebanon," he added.

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Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah May Appear Together at Dahiyeh Rally

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah may appear together next week at a rally organized by the Shiite group for the Iranian leader's visit to Lebanon, a Hizbullah official said on Thursday.

"We are organizing a rally in honor of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad next Wednesday at the Al-Raya stadium and we expect Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to make an appearance," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Agence France Presse.

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Zahra to Nicola: Geagea Released by General Pardon, Your Master Returned via Deal with Tutelage Authority

Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra on Thursday snapped back at Change and Reform bloc MP Nabil Nicola, reminding him that LF leader Samir Geagea "was released from prison because he was innocent, and more than three quarters of the parliament had voted in favor of the general pardon law, including Free Patriotic Movement MPs."

Zahra wondered if FPM MPs "had voted on the aforementioned law while unconvinced of Geagea's innocence."

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Anti-Ahmadinejad Banners Appear in Tripoli: You Are Not Welcome

A Sunni Islamist group in the northern city of Tripoli sent a blunt "not welcome" message to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday ahead of his visit to the country.

Several banners and pictures of the Shiite Iranian leader, who is due in Lebanon October 13-14, went up in the mainly Sunni port city expressing discontent at the visit.

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Qahwaji Warns: Lebanese Army Will Confront Attempts to Stir Discord

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji on Thursday warned that the military will confront attempts to stir discord.

"There are no negative signs at present of repercussions of regional conflicts on the Lebanese arena," Qahwaji said during a meeting with command chiefs and unit commanders in Yarze.

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Southern Villagers Eager to See Ahmadinejad at Israel's Doorstep

Residents of southern Lebanon are brimming with excitement ahead of a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is expected to tour the border area with his arch-enemy Israel in a message of defiance.

"I can't wait to see Ahmadinejad get close to the barbed wire and show the Israelis that he has them by the throat," said Abdullah, of the border village of Kfar Kila, who refused to give his real name.

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Saqr: What We Possess in False Witnesses Case Eliminates 90 Percent of Rumors

MP Oqab Saqr stressed on Thursday that the March 14 forces is not responsible for the false witnesses, adding that those behind them should be punished.

"We have something to say in this matter … and we possess information that we will present to the judiciary and the public that would serve to eliminate 90 percent of the rumors over the false witnesses," he told New TV.

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Najjar: False Witnesses Report Needs Updating and Each Minister Will have a Copy on Tuesday

Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar revealed on Thursday that his report on the false witnesses case in the investigation in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has been ready for some time, but it needs updating.

He told Future News that the updates are a result of new developments that have taken place in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during the past month, adding that President Michel Suleiman had requested the update.

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Nicola: Geagea was Released from Prison Thanks to Aoun

Change and Reform MP Nabil Nicola on Thursday said Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea was released from prison "thanks to" FMP chief Michel Aoun and his MPs.

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