Lebanese Sunni Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said Monday that the outbreak of street violence in Beirut Sunday was an aggression against the state, local Naharnet website reported. "The riots were an act of aggression against the state and against the security in the country," Qabbani said in a statement denouncing the fighting which erupted in west Beirut Sunday ...

A delegation of Beirut lawmakers discussed with caretaker Defense Minister Elias Murr means by which security in the capital could be "permanently preserved." Murr received in his office at the Defense Ministry in Yarze MPs Ammar Houri, Mohammad Qabbani, Imad al-Hout, Atef Majdalani, Nuhad al-Mashnouq, Jean Ogassapian, Hani Qobeissy and Nayla Tueni.

Visiting United States Central Command head General David Petraeus said on Monday he hoped for a swift formation of a new Cabinet in Lebanon and underlined "significant improvement" on the Lebanese domestic front since his visit last year. Following talks with President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-delegate Saad Hariri.

CAIRO - An Egyptian court upheld the death sentence of Egyptian businessman and former politician Hisham Talaat Mustafa on Thursday. The ruling will see the tycoon hanged for his involvement in the murder of Lebanese pop singer Suzanne Tamim last year in Dubai.

The Department of Motor Vehicles office in Lebanon was closed because of an air quality issue Friday.

Lebanon police continue to seek information on the shooting of a Lebanon man that occurred around 1:43 a.m. June 26 in the 800 block of Guilford Street.

AN APPETITE for, for handsome women and beautiful cars, has taken Simon Main from Australia to Europe (via jail) and now to Lebanon.

Washington, 30 June (WashingtonTV)?Lebanon?s President Michel Suleiman on Monday congratulated his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on his re-election, hours after Iran?s electoral watchdog certified the results of the disputed 12 June election.

Travelport, one of the world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers and operator of both the Galileo and Worldspan platforms, recently hosted a highly-successful product showcase for travel agents in Lebanon aimed at highlighting the power of its cutting-edge travel technology.

Beirut, Lebanon: 30 June, 2009: Travelport, one of the world's leading global distribution system (GDS) providers and operator of both the Galileo and Worldspan platforms, recently hosted a highly-successful product showcase for travel agents in Lebanon aimed at highlighting the power of its cutting-edge travel technology.

Saudi Arabia vows to stand by Lebanon

LEBANON (NEWS CENTER) -- The State Medical Examiner's Office has identified the remains of a body found in a well in Lebanon as that of Frances Moulton.

NICOSIA [MENL] -- Germany and Lebanon have signed a counter-insurgency agreement. Officials said Germany has pledged to provide training and intelligence to Lebanon in the battle against insurgents, particularly Al Qaida.

Four people suspected of links to Al-Qaeda were charged Monday with planning attacks in Lebanon and Syria, judicial officials said. Islamic extremist groups drawing inspiration from Al-Qaeda have been responsible for violence in both countries in recent years, including attacks on Lebanese soldiers and an attempt to storm the US Embassy in Syria's capital.

BEIRUT - The Lebanese army said it would open fire on any armed person appearing on the streets, after a brief clash on Sunday between supporters of rival political factions in western Beirut killed one person.

Four people suspected of links to Al Qaeda were charged Monday with planning attacks in Lebanon and neighboring Syria, judicial officials said.

Lebanon: Mufti condemns factional violence (AKI) - Lebanon's Grand Mufti on Monday condemned the violence that occurred between rival factions in Beirut at the weekend. Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said the violence, in which a woman was killed, was an act of aggression against the state and called for the arrest of those responsible."Rioting on the streets of Beirut is an act of aggression ...

Eds: UPDATES with arrests, Saudi-Syrian meeting on Lebanon.

Relatives angry over the fatal shooting of a Lebanese woman in a clash between rival Sunnis and Shiites in a Beirut neighborhood burned tires and briefly blocked a road Monday, in a sign of the country's lingering tensions as it struggles to form a unity government.

Lebanon: Nandos, the Afro-Portuguese flame-grilled chicken celebrated the opening of its new branch in Kaslik. [AMEInfo.com]

A deadly street clash between rival political groups this weekend ? the worst factional violence in the Lebanese capital in over a year ? underlines the challenges lying ahead for Saad Hariri, Lebanon's top Sunni politician, who has been appointed Lebanon's next prime minister.

Die Armee muss fr Ordnung sorgen, nach einer Schieerei in den Straen von Libanons Hauptstadt Beirut. Eine Frau wurde bei den Kmpfen gettet.?

Lebanon is considering a crackdown on recreational vehicle parking and loud music.

Sparta?s 9/10 year old baseball All Stars opened their campaign Saturday evening in Carthage and came from behind to take an 8-5 win over Lebanon. Sparta held an early 3-1 lead, but saw Lebanon plate four third inning runs to go ahead 5-3.

Doha: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday telephoned the Lebanese President Michael Suleiman. Relations between the two countries and issues of mutual interest were discussed during the conversation.

Saad Hariri will begin consultations on Monday with all political factions after being designated Lebanon?s prime minister at the weekend and charged with forming a government.

Lebanon's president names Saad Hariri as the country's new prime minister, following elections earlier this month.

A woman has been killed during clashes in mainly Muslim west Beirut between rival Lebanese political parties.

A woman has been killed by a stray bullet during clashes in mainly Muslim west Beirut between rival Lebanese political parties.

Source: Reuters * Army says it will fire on any armed person on streets * Brief clash in west Beirut kills one woman BEIRUT, June 28 (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said on Sunday it would open fire on any armed ...

Sunni supporters of Lebanon's prime minister-designate and Shiite rivals from the parliament speaker's political faction traded gunfire in a Beirut neighborhood Sunday. Security officials said one civilian was killed and two others were wounded in the first outbreak of violence since this month's elections.

Sunni supporters of Lebanon's prime minister-designate and Shiite rivals from the parliament speaker's political faction traded gunfire in a Beirut neighborhood Sunday.

A woman was killed by a stray bullet during clashes in mainly Muslim west Beirut between rival Lebanese political parties on Sunday, an official of prime minister-designate Saad Hariri's party said.

Associated Press - June 28, 2009 1:43 PM ET BEIRUT (AP) - Security officials say supporters of Lebanon's prime minister-designate are trading gunfire with rivals in the streets of...

BEIRUT - Security officials say supporters of Lebanon's prime minister-designate are trading gunfire with rivals in the streets of Beirut.

Saad Hariri, the son of Lebanon's slain former prime minister and the leader of its Western-aligned parliamentary majority, will serve as Lebanon's next prime minister.

Der neue libanesische Ministerprsident Saad Hariri will an diesem Montag mit der Regierungsbildung beginnen. Das berichten Zeitungen in Beirut.?

Lebanon's parliamentary majority leader Saad al-Hariri has been appointed prime minister-designate, pledging to seek a national unity government but warning that his task would be difficult.

BEIRUT | Western-backed billionaire Saad Hariri pledged Saturday to work for a national unity government that includes his Hezbollah rivals shortly after he was appointed by the president to become the country's next prime minister. An alliance led by the 39-year-old son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri fended off a serious challenge from the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies in ...

The World Bank has revised downward its economic growth forecast for Lebanon to 2.5% in 2009, from an earlier forecast of 4% at the end of last year.

BEIRUT ? Western-backed billionaire Saad Hariri pledged Saturday to work for a national unity government that includes his Hezbollah rivals shortly after he was appointed by the president to become the country's next prime minister. An alliance led by the 39-year-old son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri fended off a serious challenge from the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies in ...

Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri vowed Saturday to face all challenges that are threatening Lebanon, Al-Manar TV reported. Minutes after his designation by President Michel Suleiman as prime minister, Hariri addressed the Lebanese from the presidential palace stressing that there are major and real challenges facing Lebanon. "A capable government should be able to face Israeli ...

Lebanese Sunni majority leader Saad Hariri is expected to be designated next Prime Minister on Saturday afternoon, when parliamentary consultations carried out by President Michel Suleiman end later today, local Elnashra website reported Saturday. President Suleiman started on Friday binding parliamentary consultations with members of the parliament blocks to nominate the Prime Minister who ...

Beirut: Saad Al Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, was named Lebanon?s new Prime Minister yesterday, a presidential statement said.

Doha: Lebanese contestant Bassam Jalgha won the first series of ?Stars of Science?, a new Pan-Arab innovation contest initiated by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, on Friday.

Saad Hariri, the wealthy leader of an American-backed political coalition, was appointed prime minister of Lebanon on...

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 27 (UPI) -- The new prime minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, said Saturday he would start forming a national unity government, which analysts say will include Hezbollah.

Saad Hariri has been selected as Lebanon's new Prime Minister.

Saad Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, pledged to form a cabinet that will unite rival political camps after he was named Lebanon's new prime minister.

Saad Hariri, the son of Lebanon?s slain former prime minister, will now begin assembling a cabinet to help manage a state that has been plagued by war, divisions and debt.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Saad Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, pledged to form a cabinet that would unite rival political camps after he was named Lebanon's new prime minister on Saturday.

Saad Hariri was thrust into the midst of Lebanese politics in 2005 following the assassination of his father, Rafiq al-Hariri, the country's former prime minister, in a bombing in central Beirut.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman appointed Saad al-Hariri as prime minister-designate on Saturday, charging him with the tough task of forming a new government that would turn the page on four years of turmoil.

Lebanon's president appointed parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri Saturday to become prime minister after his pro-Western coalition defeated a Hezbollah-led alliance in this month's election.

BEIRUT - Lebanon's president appointed parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri Saturday to become prime minister after his pro-Western coalition defeated a Hezbollah-led alliance in this month's election.

Lebanon's president appointed parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri Saturday to become prime minister after his...

BEIRUT ? Lebanon's president appointed parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri Saturday to become prime minister after his pro-Western coalition defeated a Hezbollah -led alliance in this month's election.

BEIRUT : Saad Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, was himself named Lebanon's new prime minister on Saturday, a presidential statement said.

BEIRUT - Four years after the assassination of his father, former five-time prime minister Rafik Hariri, the youthful Saad Hariri has become Lebanon?s new head of government, vowing to unite Lebanon and work for the interest of his country.

June 27 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanon?s Saad Hariri , leader of a pro-Western coalition, was asked by President Michel Suleiman to form a government, after beating Hezbollah and its allies in June 7 parliamentary elections.

Saad Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, was himself named Lebanon's new prime minister on Saturday, a presidential statement said.

Lebanon's newly appointed Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri said on Saturday he would seek forming a national unity government but warned his task would be difficult.

(Updates with details of Hariri's nomination.) BEIRUT (AFP)--Saad Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, was named Lebanon's new prime minister on Saturday, a presidential statement said.

Lebanon's president names Saad Hariri as the country's new prime minister, following elections earlier this month.

SAAD Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, has been named Lebanon's new prime minister, a presidential statement says.

Beirut - Saad Hariri, the head of Lebanon's anti-Syrian ruling majority, was nominated Saturday by 86 of the 128-member parliament to become prime minister in the next cabinet. The official parliamentary consultations ended noon Saturday and Hariri i...

Lebanon's hotly contested parliamentary elections are over, the results are in and the political battle for Lebanon goes to the pro-Western March 14 coalition.

Lebanon's President, Michel Suleiman, asked parliamentary majority leader Saad al-Hariri on Saturday to form a new government, officials said.

A show dog from Lebanon, the top-ranked female Akita in the nation, was one of seven show dogs that died earlier this week in Arnold, Mo., when a handler left them in their kennels stacked in a van overnight Sunday.

Rymco inaugurated today, its state-of-the-art aftersales facility in Monot, one of Beirut's most popular streets.

BEIRUT: The number of diagnosed cases in Lebanon of A(H1N1), otherwise known as swine flu, has risen to 35 after the discovery of five new cases, the Health Ministry said Friday.

Sa'ad al-Hariri, the leader of Lebanon's parliamentary majority and head of the Future movement, is poised to become prime minister.

BEIRUT: Saad Al Hariri was set to be officially designated as Lebanon?s prime minister today after a majority of parliamentarians nominated the US-backed politician to the post yesterday, officials said.

A show dog from Lebanon, the top-ranked female Akita in the nation, was one of seven show dogs that died earlier this week in Arnold, Mo. when a handler left them in their kennels stacked in a van overnight Sunday.

A crumbling block of empty shops and flats in Streetly dubbed ?little Beirut? in the past could be transformed into a parade of new cafes and shops, it?s been revealed.

Politicians and religious leaders were quick to condemn the celebratory gunfire that rippled through Beirut on Thursday. The outbreaks of gunfire could be heard ringing across many parts of the city as Amal Movement supporters greeted the re-election of MP Nabih Berri as parliamentary speaker.

The number of diagnosed cases in Lebanon of A(H1N1), otherwise known as swine flu, has risen to 35 after the discovery of five new cases, the Health Ministry said Friday. All the patients have or are to receive medical treatment, a statement from the ministry said. No deaths from the deadly virus have yet been reported.

Sa'ad al-Hariri, the Sunni Muslim leader of Lebanon's parliamentary majority and head of the western-backed Future movement, is poised to become prime minister tomorrowafter seeking to mend fences with the Shia movement Hezbollah.

Lebanon's president consulted with lawmakers Friday on their choice for a prime minister to unify the nation after parliamentary elections in which a pro-Western coalition defeated a Hezbollah-led alliance.

Saad Hariri was poised to be designated Lebanon's new prime minister after his Western-backed party, which along with its allies holds the majority in parliament, picked him for the post on Friday.

Beirut - Teenagers in Lebanon expressed shock and sadness as news spread Friday about the premature death of Michael Jackson, describing him as legend of pop music. I cannot believe the King of Pop is dead. I was hoping I would see him performing in...

One woman died and 10 others were wounded in Beirut Thursday when celebrating gunfire were shot in the air by supporters of parliament speaker Nabih Berri after he was re-elected for the fifth term, Elnashra website reported Friday. The woman died from a heart attack scared by the gunfire, while10 people were injured in Beirut southern suburbs by celebrating gunfire. Gunfire celebrations are ...

A 22-year-old Lebanon man is undergoing treatment for a gunshot wound suffered about 1:43 a.m. Friday in the 800 block of Guilford Street, police report.

Lebanon's Saad al-Hariri has led his allies to electoral victory twice in a short political career defined by the deep crisis unleashed by the assassination of his father, Rafik.

A man recovers this morning after being shot along the 800 block of Guilford Street in Lebanon City just before 2 a.m.

BEIRUT (AFP)--The leader of the Western-backed alliance that won this month's Lebanese parliamentary election, Saad Hariri, has held talks with his defeated rival, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, on the makeup of a new government, an aide said Friday.

BEIRUT, June 26 ? A large majority of members of Lebanon?s parliament will nominate US-backed Saad al-Hariri for the post of prime minister, paving the way for his appointment later this week, political sources said today. President Michel Suleiman will hold consultations with parliamentarians later today and tomorrow to decide on the next prime minister. Tomorrow he will designate the candidate ...

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A large majority of members of Lebanon's parliament will nominate U.S.-backed Saad al-Hariri for the post of prime minister, paving the way for his appointment later this week, political sources said on Friday.

Beirut - The leader of the Lebanon's Western-backed ruling majority, Saad Hariri met overnight with Hezbollah Chief Shiekh Hassan Nasrallah, in a move aimed at enhancing unity in the country, the Hezbollah-run al-Manar television said FridayA source ...

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A large majority of members of Lebanon's parliament will nominate U.S.-backed Saad al-Hariri for the post of prime minister, paving the way for his appointment later this week, political sources said Friday.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Shiite leader Nabih Berri was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as parliament speaker on Thursday, consolidating his position as one of Lebanon's most influential politicians.

BEIRUT: Rami Nemer, head of the board of directors of First National Bank (FNB), praised on Thursday the performance of the Lebanese banking sector and its resilience to the global financial crisis during a lunch hosted by the bank.

The Israeli army has set new military buildup along its border with Lebanon Thursday, amid intensified air force flights over Lebanese territories, the official national News agency (NNA) reported. Merkava tanks and armored vehicles were deployed along the wired fence separating occupied Shebaa Farms from Lebanese territories, the report said. The NNA described the Israeli military setup as ...

New York, Jun 25 2009 4:10PM Individuals who have information regarding the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and other recent political killings can now provide that to the Prosecutor at the United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon through a newly created, secure webpage.

Middle-Easterners and Americans alike will gather for three days of eating, dancing and socializing at the annual St. Sharbel Lebanese Festival. The event will take place Friday through Sunday.

Nabih Berri was elected Parliament Speaker for a fifth consecutive time on Thursday. He heads the mostly Shiite Amal Movement. He was born in Bo, Sierra Leone on January 28, 1938. He went to school in Tebnine and Ain Ebel in southern Lebanon and later studied at the Makassed and the Ecole de la Sagesse in Beirut.

Rami Nemer, head of the board of directors of First National Bank (FNB), praised on Thursday the performance of the Lebanese banking sector and its resilience to the global financial crisis during a lunch hosted by the bank. "The Lebanese banking sector should benefit from the exceptional opportunity of attracting additional investments.

Beirut - The Israeli army has stepped up its presence along the border with Lebanon deploying armoured tanks and setting up fortifications, the Lebanese National News Agency reported Thursday. According to the agency, the Israeli army deployed Mirkav...

BEIRUT (AFP) - Shiite leader Nabih Berri was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as parliament speaker on Thursday, consolidating his position as one of Lebanon's most influential politicians.

Shiite leader Nabih Berri was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as parliament speaker on Thursday, consolidating his position as one of Lebanon's most influential politicians.

Beirut - The Office of the Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on Thursday announced the launch of a new website for individuals who have useful information concerning the court's investigation into the 2005 assassination of ex-premi...

Newly-elected Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called on lawmakers Thursday to take advantage of the positive regional and international atmosphere to work for maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon. During his address to parliament following his election, Berri stressed on "facilitating the formation of a national government to confront external challenges and threats." Berri was ...

An Israeli army delegation has proposed direct political bilateral talks between the governments Lebanon and Israel, local As-Safier daily reported Thursday. Lebanese government sources were quoted as saying that the high-level Israeli delegation put forward the proposal when meeting with a Lebanese delegation under the auspices of UN Interim Forcesin Lebanon (UNIFIL) Wednesday. The Israeli side ...

CAIRO, Jun 25, 2009 (AFP) - A Cairo court on Thursday confirmed the death sentence of an Egyptian tycoon and an ex-cop hitman for the murder last year of a Lebanese pop star after the verdict was approved by the country's top cleric.

The Lebanon school district is trying to make its transportation of students more efficient and cost-effective.

CAIRO (AFP) - A Cairo court on Thursday confirmed a death sentence against an Egyptian tycoon and an ex-cop hitman for the murder of a Lebanese pop star after the verdict was approved by Egypt's top cleric.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Shiite leader Nabih Berri was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as parliament speaker on Thursday, consolidating his position as a "wily fox" and one of Lebanon's most influential politicians.

BEIRUT, June 25 (Reuters) - Below is a table of the latest Lebanese economic statistics.

A Cairo court on Thursday confirmed a death sentence against an Egyptian tycoon and an ex-cop hitman for the murder of a Lebanese pop star after the verdict was approved by Egypt's top cleric.

Shiite leader Nabih Berri was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as parliament speaker on Thursday, consolidating his position as one of Lebanon's most influential politicians.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's parliament Thursday elected Nabih Berri as speaker for the coming four years, extending his 17-year leadership of the chamber in a vote that underlined improved ties between rival politicians.

Hesham Talaat Moustafa was convicted of paying a hitman $2m (1.2m) to kill Suzanne Tamim, 30, at her apartment in Dubai.

LEBANON (June 24, 2009): Human remains found Tuesday afternoon in a well off Creamery Hill Road in Lebanon could be those of Frances Moulton, who disappeared in the summer of 2006.

BEIRUT (AFP)--Shiite leader Nabih Berri was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term as parliament speaker Thursday, consolidating his position as one of Lebanon's most influential politicians.

A Cairo court confirmed a death sentence against an Egyptian tycoon and an ex-cop hitman for the murder of a Lebanese pop star after the verdict was approved by the country's top cleric.

BEIRUT: The number of diagnosed cases in Lebanon of A(H1N1), otherwise known as swine flu, has risen to 30 after the discovery of five new cases, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.

BEIRUT: The sharp fluctuation of oil prices in the international markets are taking their toll on Lebanese consumers as prices of gasoline, kerosene and gasoil climbed unchecked for the fourth week in a row.

RIYADH: Health officials anno-unced three more cases of swine flu yesterday, bringing the total number of reported cases in the Kingdom to 48. An 18-year-old Lebanese girl and a Saudi boy, 12, tested positive for H1N1 in Riyadh while the third case was a 53-year-old Filipino woman in Jeddah.

LEBANON (NEWS CENTER) -- State police said they have finished searching the well behind a home in Lebanon where human remains were found Tuesday.

Lebanon charged five people on Wednesday on charges of planning to murder Libya's prime minister to avenge the 1978 disappearance of a Shiite spiritual leader, a judicial official said.The defendants, three Lebanese, one Libyan and a Palestinian, are accused of planning to send a booby-trapped package to Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi.

Following the Turkish Parliament's approval of extending the mission of troops operating as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year as of September 5, 2009, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday stressed the importance of the Middle East for Turkey's foreign-policy agenda.

The sharp fluctuation of oil prices in the international markets are taking their toll on Lebanese consumers as prices of gasoline, kerosene and gasoil climbed unchecked for the fourth week in a row. In less than one month, prices of 20 liters of gasoline rose by an average of LL3,000 to reach LL31,800 for 98 octane and LL31,100 for 95 octane.

The Lebanon YMCA has taken over operation of Covenant Christian Child Care Center, which was under threat of losing its state license and was planning to close.

Lebanon?s division II team opened the season on a roll, winning three of its first four games.

The Lebanon National Guard Armory will not close. The Oregon Military Department had announced on May 21 that budget decreases might force it to shut down a number of National Guard armories in the state. Lebanon was on the list.

BEIRUT, June 24 (Reuters) - Below is a table of the latest Lebanese economic statistics.

BEIRUT - Lebanon charged five people on Wednesday on charges of planning to murder Libya?s prime minister to avenge the 1978 disappearance of a Shiite spiritual leader, a judicial official said.

Lebanon: For the 40 high school and university students at the INJAZ al-Arab Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition, who represented 12 Arab nations and presented to a panel of judges, from high-profile organizations, the past two days were full of challenge and excitement. [AMEInfo.com]

Lebanon, Springboro educators will visit conservation ?hotspots?

Lebanon: Alfa, the mobile operator, managed by Orascom Telecom announced that it is keeping on strengthening its network all over Lebanon by installing 9 new Radio Stations since the 1st of June 2009. [AMEInfo.com]

Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group plans to increase its holding in Barclays to as much as 2.5% based on its estimae that UK banks will bring better returns than real estate, an owner of hotels in Dubai and Beirut, the bank's chairman told Bloomberg.

June 24 (Bloomberg) -- Al Habtoor Group LLC , an owner of hotels in Dubai and Beirut, plans to increase its holding in Barclays Plc to as much as 2.5 percent on a bet that U.K. banks will bring better returns than real estate, its chairman said.

Ready for summer 2009. LebHotels.com comes in packed with features for travelers wanting to book their hotel and holiday in Beirut and Lebanon.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program awarded the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) its prestigious Magnet designation on June 23.

A Lebanese monk who fell 100-feet from a cliff on the north coast has spoken of his joy at being rescued.

LEBANON, Maine ? Investigators seeking evidence in the disappearance of a young woman three years ago have found human remains in a well near a home in Lebanon. The remains were discovered ?

Al Manar NEW YORK -- A New Jersey man who admitted helping the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah by sending broadcasts from a television station has been sentenced in New York City. Saleh Elahwal, of Matawan, was sentenced today to a...

The most prominent memories Houssam Bokeili has of his Beirut childhood don't involve civil unrest, sectarian conflict or foreign invasion. The untitled exhibition of his work presently up at Zico House, based on representations of the objects and the images he does remember, feature such mundane.

A 58-year-old Lebanon woman was in the Corvallis hospital this morning following a two-car collision Monday morning 2 miles east of Corvallis on Highway 34.

Lebanese need not go abroad anymore to learn the intricacies of hotel management in a state-of-the-art facility, said Tanios Kassis, the dean of faculty of hospitality management at Beirut's Sagesse University.Kassis is visibly proud that his faculty has recently, at last, produced its first batch of graduates.

President Sleiman said that Netanyahu?s speech ?requires Arab leaders to promote their unity and preserve the spirit and the will of the Resistance?.

BEIRUT and NEW YORK, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program(R) awarded the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) its prestigious Magnet designation on June 23, 2009.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 23 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen all face political wrangles over who will succeed their current rulers. With many Arab leaders well past their prime, succession in several countries is plagued by uncertainties and possible upheaval.

A Portland man was cited for reckless driving, reckless endangerment, third-degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief and driving while suspended after he hit another vehicle in a head-on crash on Highway 34 Monday morning, sending a Lebanon woman to the hospital.

Syria has freed 23 Lebanese prisoners convicted of crimes including drug trafficking and smuggling, the head of a Syrian human rights group said on Tuesday.

Lebanese artist Haifa Wahbe was in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month accompanied by the director film crew of her first Egyptian cinema film ?Dukan Shahteh? (Shahateh?s Supermarket) to watch the premier screening for their film in Dubai.

Artsworld comes from Beirut where filmmaker Yamen Soukkarieh gives an insider's lowdown on the cultural scene of a city of different communities and contrasts.

Lebanon: Gefinor Rotana & Hazmieh Rotana Hotels are for the second consecutive year the official hotels for Project Lebanon exhibition that was held from June 16 till June 19 at Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center (Biel). [AMEInfo.com]

We should also not forget the lands from which they came, and, in this context I spoke specifically of Lebanon ? and the debt we owe to that land of our heritage, says Dr. James Zogby .

Lebanon: Digital specialist LG Electronics launched a new inspirational mobile phone to add to the Wael Kfoury Collection in a massive campaign where every customer who purchases KM335 from any Class outlet will be automatically qualified for a raffle draw to win two tickets to attend an concert by Wael Kfoury on July 04. [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT: Direct foreign investments to the Arab world increased 20 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year, the general director of the Arab investment and export credit guarantee corporation, Fahad al-Ibrahim, said on Monday.

BEIRUT: In its risk assessment of 86 banking systems in advanced and emerging economies, Fitch Ratings indicated that Lebanon's banking sector was among 25 banking systems that came in the 'low strength' category on its Banking System Indicator (BSI), as reported by Lebanon This Week, the economic publication of the Byblos Bank Group.

A West Lebanon man was sent to jail last week for drug offenses. William B. Pennington, 55, of 435 N.

LEBANON ? A concert to benefit ChristWalk Supportive Transitional Housing ? which serves men and women in Lebanon ? will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at First Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Second and Ash streets.

DragonWave Inc. ( TSX:DWI ) has won a deal with a major telecommunications provider in Lebanon, Cedarcom, which will use the Ottawa-based company's microwave radio system for its mobile broadband Internet service.

The Obama administration is in danger of stalling the peace process between Israel and Palestine, a leading expert on the Middle East warned on Monday. Speaking at a conference, "Re-activating the Arab-Israeli Peace Process" at Beirut's Carnegie Middle East Center, Nathan Brown, former scholar in residence at the Middle East Institute, said.

The Lebanese American University (LAU) on Monday announced it would grant both the central bank Governor Riad Salameh and the American chemist of Lebanese origin, professor Bassam Shakhashiri, honorary doctorates due to their achievements in the field of the humanities during LAU's commencement exercises in July.

Lebanese officials will travel to the Philippines soon to discuss a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on labor cooperation that could end Manila's deployment ban. The talks will be the second round of negotiations on the Manila-proposed memorandum aimed at bettering the working conditions of Filipinos in Lebanon.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 22 (UPI) -- The Israeli military has committed repeated violations of Lebanese territory and its obligations to the U.N. Security Council, the Lebanese U.N. envoy said.

The annual fireworks display at Coleman Memorial Park in Lebanon will start around 9 p.m. July 4. Rain date is July 5. Donations will be accepted to defray the cost of the display.

BEIRUT, June 22 (Reuters) - Lebanon's economy should grow by 6 percent this year, the finance minister in the outgoing government was quoted on Monday as saying, projecting growth beyond the 4 percent previously forecast by policymakers. Mohammad Chatah is finance minister in the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, which took on a caretaker capacity on Sunday following a June 7 ...

BEIRUT, June 22 (Reuters) - Lebanon's economy should grow by 6 percent this year, the finance minister in the outgoing government was quoted on Monday as saying, projecting growth beyond the 4 percent previously forecast by policymakers.

(AP:BEIRUT) Direct foreign investments to the Arab world increased 20 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year, even as the region grappled with the impact of the global economic meltdown, the head of an Arab investment body said Monday.

BEIRUT (AFP)--Human Rights Watch on Monday called for the release of a man held by Syria without charge since 2005 in connection with the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

Beirut-based Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) was announced winner of the 'Best Sustainable Hospital Design' and 'Best Facilities Management Services Strategy' awards at the Hospital Build Awards 2009, held in Dubai on June 15th to recognize outstanding healthcare facilities in the Middle East.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Monday for the release of a man held by Syria without charge since 2005 in connection with the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

OTTAWA, CANADA and BEIRUT, LEBANON--(Marketwire - June 22, 2009) - DragonWave Inc. (TSX:DWI) the worlds' leading supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, today announced that Cedarcom, the leading Lebanese telecommunications provider is deploying the Horizon Compact to deliver high capacity Ethernet backhaul throughout its Mobi and WiMAX networks. Cedarcom's ...

DragonWave Inc., the worlds' supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, today announced that Cedarcom, the leading Lebanese telecommunications provider, is deploying the Horizon Compact to deliver high capacity Ethernet backhaul throughout its Mobi and WiMAX networks.

The lifting of the prohibition against sending Filipino workers to Lebanon appears nearer as the Philippines invited the Lebanese government to a second round of talks to further negotiate the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Labor Cooperation, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

BEIRUT: Trading on the Beirut Stock Exchange was relatively calm this week compared to the previous week, with $21.4 million worth of stocks were traded, down from $98.8 million last week. The Blom Stock Index (BSI) slid by 0.74 percent to 1376.1, erasing part of the gain in the last two weeks.

Lebanon has rejected a Philippine proposal to increase the salary of Filipino domestic helpers, a major pre-condition before Manila lifts its deployment ban in the Middle East state.

A great musical night was held at the Egyptian Opera House for the Lebanese young artist Rami Ayash accompanied by Abed Al Halim Nwairah musical group and maestro Salah Ghabash. The stage at the opera house which holds 1500 seats was packed with fans that love great music.

According to the London daily Elaph, the Lebanese artist Najwa Karam released a new album produced by the leading Arab production company Rotana and chose the song ?Khalini Shofak? (Let Me See You) as the title for the new album.

The new Lebanese parliament, elected on June 7, is officially in power as of Sunday, after the mandate of the past parliament ended on Saturday, local An-Nahar daily reported. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman announced Saturday that the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Fouad Seniora has become a care taker government as of Sunday until a new cabinet is formed. The eldest member of ...

RIYADH: A 25-year-old Lebanese woman has been diagnosed with swine flu and admitted to the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh, bringing the total number of people affected by the disease in the Kingdom to 35, it was announced yesterday.

BEIRUT: The Israeli Army is routinely flouting United Nations law by violating Lebanese territory over land, sea and air, according to the UN Permanent Representative of Lebanon.A letter to the UN's General Assembly Security Council, signed by Ambassador Nawaf Salam, alleged that Israel violated resolution 1701.

Lebanese Forces (LF) MP George Adwan said in comments published on Sunday that his party's top priority was to reconciling differences with Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh. In an interview with Al-Balad daily on Sunday, Adwan said Franjieh had postponed the reconciliation meeting until after the elections.

Trading on the Beirut Stock Exchange was relatively calm this week compared to the previous week, with $21.4 million worth of stocks were traded, down from $98.8 million last week. The Blom Stock Index (BSI) slid by 0.74 percent to 1376.1, erasing part of the gain in the last two weeks.

If you buy Powerball tickets from Clayton's Conoco in Lebanon, be sure to double check your recent tickets.

The dead bodies of two Britons taken hostage in Iraq in 2007 and handed to UK officials in Baghdad late on Friday have been provisionally identified, the British government said on Sunday.

Relatives of slain man believe a notorious crime family from Melbourne's north is responsible.

Lebanon is in urgent need of skilled and unskilled workers, the Honorary Consul of Lebanon to the Philippines said yesterday. He appealed anew for the lifting of the deployment ban to that country in order for Filipinos to take advantage of the work opportunities there.

Kuwait's Jazeera Airways has taken delivery of its latest Airbus A320 aircraft, bringing the airline's fleet size to 10. Marwan Boodai, CEO of Jazeera Airways, said the new aircraft will allow the company to add more new destinations and increase the frequency of routes to popular destinations, such as Dubai, Beirut and Alexandria.

BEIRUT, June 21 ? On the edge of a noisy Tehran rally for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad early last week, a middle-aged woman in a chador was cursing the opposition protesters who say the Iranian election was a fraud. ?They are traitors, they are not even related to this country,? she said. ?We all support Ahmadinejad and his policies.? But even there, in a government-organised crowd watched over ...

The vote dispute has exposed a deep rift in Iranian society, and partisans on each side are sure they?re the majority.

Chief of Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah Hasan Nasrallah met with his rival Druze majority leader Walid Joumblat in Beirut's southern suburbs after over three-year political boycott, local Elnashra website reported Friday. The long-awaited meeting took place on late Thursday, but was not announced to the press until Friday. The report said that the two leaders held in-depth discussions and ...

During its triannual meeting in Beirut Lebanon last week the SAT7 International Board took a major step forward by voting to integrate TURK7 fully into the ministrys network of TV channels by January 2010

Lebanon: Alfa, the mobile operator, has recently started the installation of its fifth solar powered site in Hourata reserve, a technology consisting in drawing energy from sunlight. [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT: The number of diagnosed cases in Lebanon of the A(H1N1) virus, otherwise known as swine flu, has risen to 20 and will likely increase further, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

BEIRUT, Jun 19, 2009 (AFP) - Lebanon is due to kick off star-studded summer festivals with the likes of legendary British bands Deep Purple and Jethro Tull set to rock the country as it seeks to break with past turmoil.

At around 4.35 last Monday morning, my Beirut mobile phone rang in my Tehran hotel room. "Mr Fisk, I am a computer science student in Lebanon. I have just heard that students are being massacred in their dorms at Tehran University. Do you know about this?" The Fisk notebook is lifted wearily from the bedside table. "And can you tell me why," he continued, "the BBC and other media are not ...

BEIRUT - SUPREME Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's uncompromising demand for a halt to street protests over Iran's disputed presidential election puts him in the forefront of a power struggle that could turn bloody. In a rare Friday prayer sermon, Khamenei, 69, essentially read the riot act to anyone questioning the integrity of last week's election that gave hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ...

DPA/Beirut Lebanese anti-Syrian Druze leader and member of parliament Walid Jumblatt met pro-Syrian Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in a move aimed at moving Lebanon to a stage of ?reconciliation and co-operation,? a source close to Jumblatt said yesterday.

Financial experts called on Friday for the promotion of sustainable development in Lebanon through the banking sector, which has shown considerable resilience during the global financial crisis. "Banks could be agents of positive or negative change depending on what level of social responsibility they actually exercise," said.

Despite a history of being at the epicenter of disasters - both man-made and natural - Lebanon remains one of the world's worst performers when it comes to disaster preparedness and recovery capacity. According to an international study conducted by World Vision, Lebanon registered an overall score of 1.79 on a five- point scale.

To say that Iraqi refugees in Lebanon are stuck between a rock and a hard place would be a drastic understatement; a choice between working illegally for low wages or returning to a war torn country is no choice at all. Of the estimated 50,000 Iraqis currently living in the country, only 10,500 are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Defense Minister Elias Murr met on Friday with UNIFIL's commander in south Lebanon, Claudio Graziano. In remarks following the meeting, Graziano stressed "fruitful cooperation between the Lebanese Army and international forces." The National News Agency said that Graziano decorated Murr with the UNIFIL Medal of Honor.

Lebanon is due to kick off star-studded summer festivals with the likes of legendary British bands Deep Purple and Jethro Tull set to rock the country as it seeks to break with past turmoil.

Beirut - The Lebanese army on Friday accused Israel of violating the Lebanese border by establishing an observation post in a restricted area on the outskirts of the Kfarshouba hills. In clear violation of a restricted area of Lebanese territory, an...

In the late 1990s, prodded by the United States, the Lebanese government vowed to eliminate the persistent problem of hashish cultivation in the lawless Bekaa Valley. The government bought 3,000 American dairy cows to help farmers survive without relying on hashish.

Source: Reuters By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent BEIRUT, June 19 (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's uncompromising demand for a halt to street protests over Iran's disputed presidential ...

BEIRUT - The leaders of the militant group Hezbollah and the rival, pro-Western Druse faction have pledged to work together following a rare meeting that could prove to be a step toward political reconciliation and the formation of a national unity government.

The famous Lebanese artist Haifa Wahbe (is this correct?) will film a music video clip for the song ?Aklik Mineen Ya Batah? (Where Should I Start Eating You Ducky) originally recorded by the famous Lebanese singer Sabah.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt met for the first time in more than three years, marking a thaw in ties between the political foes, local media reported on Friday.

Head of Hezbollah parliamentary block Mohammad Raad met Thursday with British ambassador to Lebanon Frances Guy in a first contact between the Lebanese Shiite armed group and a senior British official, local Elnashra website reported. "Talks covered recent elections and regional complications," Raad told reporters after the meeting in the parliament building. He said that he "stressed the ...

(RTTNews) - British Ambassador to Lebanon Frances Guy held talks with Hezbollah parliamentary leader Mohammad Raad on Thursday, marking the first such contact between the militant group's political wing and a senior British official since 2005.

Like the summer solstice that it marks, Fete de la Musique, the night-long musical celebration of the year's briefest night, returns to Beirut streets this Sunday for its ninth round of Franco-Arab vibrations. In the tradition of cultural unity, the event promises to stage a wide range of music, from Arabic hip-hop to alternative rock and electronic music.

Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar and Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Robin Vincent signed on Wednesday a Memorandum of Understanding on the UN-backed court's office in Lebanon. Speaking at a conference at Beirut's InterContinental Phoenicia Hotel, Vincent said the memorandum was aimed at protecting the tribunal's employees working in Lebanon.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Hezbollah parliamentary leader Mohammad Raad met British ambassador Frances Guy on Thursday in the first such contact in Lebanon between the Shiite militant group's political wing and a senior British official.

BEIRUT, June 18 (Reuters) - Below is a table of the latest Lebanese economic statistics.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said that his group will maintain calm in Lebanon despite defeat in parliamentary elections, Al-Manar TV reported Wednesday night. During a ceremony to honor his electoral team in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Lebanese Shiite armed group leader said his party accepts the elections results, but will follow up election violations in a legal way and will not ...

BEIRUT: The exceptional resilience of the Lebanese economy to the global financial crisis and the political stability that has been prevailing following the June 7 Parliament elections encouraged a great number of investors to participate in Project Lebanon 2009. "I believe that there is a great potential of investing in Lebanon, and Arabs are going to be much more interested in our country ...

Two Harrisburg residents were among four persons arrested Tuesday on drug-sales charges in Lebanon, state police said. Suejuan Marie Mosely, 40, and James Colon, 24, were apprehended after a short vehicle and foot chase that started at Ninth and Willow streets, troopers said.

The exceptional resilience of the Lebanese economy to the global financial crisis and the political stability that has been prevailing following the June 7 Parliament elections encouraged a great number of investors to participate in Project Lebanon 2009. "I believe that there is a great potential of investing in Lebanon.

Head of the Union for Lebanon Masoud al-Ashkar urged the Lebanese government on Tuesday to submit to the UN Security Council a draft resolution forcing Israel to take in all Palestinian refugees living in neighboring countries. Ashkar also called of the Lebanese government "not to approve any peace deals.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt warned against an Israeli attack on Lebanon in light of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's speech which focused on the growing Iranian threat. Netanyahu's speech "could mean an aggression on Lebanon under the slogan of 'thwarting the Iranian threat."

The different manner in which opposition supporters greeted defeat in June elections in Lebanon and Iran could not have been more pronounced. In Lebanon's general polls on June 7, parties from the defeated March 8 coalition were quick to accept the outcome, with a Hizbullah spokesman conceding the same night as preliminary results were announced.

Key Arab nations have kept silent about Iran's political upheaval, possibly reluctant to antagonize the powerful nation that sponsors such militant groups as Hezbollah and Hamas.

The green thumbs of several Lebanon gardeners will be on display next weekend, showcasing outdoor offerings

The annual Hillbilly Days celebration will be held Thursday through Sunday at Lebanon and Bennett Spring State Park. The event, sponsored by the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce, was founded in 1974 to commemorate the golden anniversary of the Missouri State Parks System.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 17 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hijacked the peace process in his policy speech, threatening the Middle East region, a top Lebanese lawmaker said.

Neuigkeiten von Sigur Rs , Captain Planet , Yo La Tengo , Bloc Party , Beirut , Zoot Woman , Spinal Tap und dem Highfield Festival. +++ Sigur Rs, die momentan das zehnjhrige Jubilum ihres Albums "Agtis Byrjun" feiern, hatten auch im islndischen Fernsehen Grund dazu. Dort allerdings, weil sie die Quiz Show Popppunktur fr sich entscheiden konnten, in der zwei Bands gegeneinander antreten ...

A Lebanon man is charged with sex assault after police said a juvenile made a complaint against him.

Damascus believed to be unconcerned by victory of anti-Syrian March 14 group. The Syrian authorities are hoping that the defeat of their allies in the recent Lebanese general elections will not lead to deteriorating relations between the countries, say local observers.

Lebanon: Infiniti, the luxury automotive brand from Japan, is now well on its way to the UK with the first centre under construction and on schedule to open its doors on the outskirts of Reading, close to Junction 11 of the M4 motorway outside London, during September 2009. [AMEInfo.com]

Dubai-based Deyaar Development has announced that it will hand over in July all units at its Saifi Village II project in Lebanon. Saifi Village II comprises 72 apartments and penthouses located within the Beirut City Center master development.

The Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the city of Lebanon, invites the public to an Urban Area Security Initiative Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 at the Ward Agricultural Center, located at 945 E. Baddour Parkway in Lebanon.

June 17 (Bloomberg) -- Deyaar Development PJSC, the property company that put a quarter of its projects in Dubai on hold, said it plans to hand over to investors in July a 365 million-dirham ($100 million) residential project in Lebanon.

BEIRUT: Lebanon's Health Ministry announced Tuesday the discovery of two new cases of the deadly H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 10. The patients were described as a 27-year-old man arriving from Australia and a 32-year-old woman from Canada who arrived at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport on Monday, the ...

BEIRUT: The American University of Beirut (AUB) announced on Tuesday the establishment of the Georges N. Frem Manufacturing Technologies Hub in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.

BEIRUT (AFP)--A member of the Palestinian Fatah movement was killed in the largest refugee camp in Lebanon late Tuesday, a Palestinian official said Wednesday.

BEIRUT (AFP) - A member of the Palestinian Fatah movement was killed in the largest refugee camp in Lebanon, a Palestinian official said.

Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel on Tuesday revealed that there are differences among the ruling majority regarding the re-election of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, LBC TV reported. "The ruling majority is not in full agreement on reelecting Nabih Berri as Parliament Speaker. The final decision will be made after consultations," Gemayel said at a press conference. The recent Lebanese ...

DANBURY -- The Lebanon American Club, 22 West St., will celebrate Lebanon American Day on Wednesday with several events in the city.At 12:30 p.m., there will be a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, followed by a luncheon at the Lebanon American Club to honor the past presidents of the men's and women's clubs.

Police are clearing what appears to be a two-car accident at Lebanon Avenue and Hecker St. in Belleville that sent one of the cars into the building of a sheet metal business.

Egypt will send an ambassador to Iraq for the first time since their envoy was killed by Al Qaeda militants in 2005, the foreign ministry said yesterday. The ministry described Sharif Kamal Shahine as a veteran diplomat with 27 years experience, including postings in Tokyo, Athens and Beirut.

The Lebanese Army thwarted on Tuesday an attempt to drive a booby-trapped car into the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. The army seized the car and arrested the driver. The incident occurred at an army checkpoint located at the western entrance of Ain al-Hilweh camp, where army soldiers stopped a blue Toyota Corolla vehicle.

CAIRO, June 16 (UPI) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Lebanese officials in Cairo to discuss bilateral trade issues following the Lebanese parliamentary elections.

While Lebanon's democratic election should be celebrated, it will not affect the power currents running beneath the surface. Before we get carried away with excitement...

Nixon family may stop its operation of Lebanon Raceway

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Lebanon's Western-backed ruling majority remains in power as a result of the country's hotly contested June 7 parliamentary elections, a setback for the Christian opposition backed by Hezbollah.

The writer Rabih Alameddine recommends Beirut for its fastpaced lifestyle and slowcooked stews.

BEIRUT (AP) ? Lebanon?s Western-backed coalition defeated Hezbollah and its allies, according to official results Monday that dealt a stunning setback to the Iranian-backed militants and set the stage for renewed political deadlock in the volatile nation.

Lebanon: Alfa, the mobile operator, managed by Orascom Telecom, announced that it is keeping on strengthening its network all over Lebanon in order to enhance the quality of transmission, improve the network coverage and increase its capacity to support the subscribers traffic and growth. [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT (AFP)--Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest speech has ruled out the possibility of a settlement in the Middle East.

The Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut Central District (Solidere) s.a.l. announced its audited consolidated financial statements for the year 2008, revealing a net income of $214.3m ($182.7m after income tax amounting to $31.6m).

If the country had not come out in such massive numbers, the shock of the results would not have been as profound. Even if he prevails, Ahmadinejad is scarred forever

Fifty suspected spies have been arrested in Lebanon in the past week.

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) will feature the works of four contemporary Lebanese composers its next concert on June 20 at the Aspire Hall in the Aspire Zone at 7.30pm.

LEBANON ? Sound carries strangely in the auditorium of Lebanon High School. The orchestra pit routinely drowns out the singers, and no one ever has enough microphones.

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 the two, who were arrested last month, with providing Israel with information about military.

The United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on Monday did not respond to remarks made in a Lebanese newspaper, criticizing recent changes to its operating mandate. On Monday, Al-Akhbar newspaper suggested that amendments to the 14 Rules of Procedure and Evidence (RPE), adopted unanimously by STL judges, could "blow the transparency of the tribunal."

Leading Lebanese banks continued to gross highly acclaimed awards for their great performance from international organizations. The prestigious Banker Middle East magazine has selected BLOM as the best bank in the Middle East in 2009. The announcement came during a lunch ceremony held by BLOM in the presence of the media.

Nestled in the heart of Lebanon, the municipality of Hammana has been blessed with summer's most delectable fruit: cherries. To celebrate its harvest, Hammana - in partnership with Souk el Tayeb (a Beirut-based organic food cooperative) - hosted its inaugural Karaz (Arabic for cherry) festival last Sunday.

Lebanon's summer season has officially begun. Tourism Minister Elie Marouni announced the start of the summer tourism season jointly with three other ministers at a press conference held yesterday at his ministry. Marouni addressed the media alongside Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud, Information Minister Tarek Mitri.

Lebanese President says Netanyahu's views 'reflect intransigence' concerning peace process Palestinian refugees.

The day after Lebanon?s parliamentary elections I was asked to speak to a British audience about the outcome.

Large-scale manipulation of Friday's presidential election in Iran was to be expected, but few could have predicted that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had a military coup in mind. By declaring incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, Khamenei conveyed a clear message to the West: Iran is digging in on its nuclear program, its support to Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas ...

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called for unity among Arab leaders on Monday, a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed, with conditions, a Palestinian state beside Israel for the first time. "Arab leaders should be more united and preserve the spirit of resistance to face the Israeli stands regarding the peace process and the Palestinian refugee issue," Suleiman was ...

Kigali ? Sylvain Rukundo and Jean Baptiste Simukeka are some of the athletes fighting for places to the 6th Francophone Games in Beirut-Lebanon this September.

The re-election of Iran's hardline president and a tough speech by Israel's hawkish prime minister signaled an increasingly difficult road ahead for President Barack Obama's hopes for ending Tehran's nuclear threat and brokering peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

BEIRUT, June 15 (Reuters) - Below is a table of the latest Lebanese economic statistics.

Lebanese Brigadier General says army busted Al-Qaeda network plotting attacks in number of Arab countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed for the first time the creation of a Palestinian state, provided it was demilitarised, after weeks of pressure from Washington.

BEIRUT: Equity markets in Beirut rallied after Sunday's polls showed the Western-backed March 14 camp has won the majority in the parliamentary elections.

Lebanon police said they are still following leads on a rape that occurred on the city?s bike path nearly

A young Hizbullah fighter who launched a deadly attack on a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) helicopter last summer told a military tribunal on Friday he thought the aircraft was Israeli. Mustafa Hassan al-Muqadam, 23, fired five shots at the LAF chopper as it made a routine landing in Tellet al-Rezlan in the southern village of Sujod on August 28, 2008.

The Daily Star went to find out what people in Beirut thought about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's contentious re-election.

Bread Circle, a recently opened cafe in Achrafieh, is pretty unusual compared to your run of the mill pastry shop. You can barely fit five customers into the small space the cafe occupies, and the handful of indoor stools sit just three feet from the cash register. Apart from a neon green wall and a stainless steel stand for cupcakes.

Three concomitant electoral ?deadlines? occur this month: in Lebanon and the European Union on June 7 and in Iran on June 12. The European polls will take place in the 27 countries of the EU and involve 470 million people speaking 200 languages and dialects who are called to renew the European Parliament, which comprise 570 MEPs (members of the European Parliament) of every political stripe.

Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said on Sunday that Hezbollah's right to veto legislation would not be reinstated by the new Lebanese government.

CAIRO - Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said on Sunday that Hezbollah?s right to veto legislation would not be reinstated by the new Lebanese government.

Mona Hatoum was born in Beirut in 1952 and studied there at the American University. In 1975 she ...

CAIRO (AFP)--Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said Sunday that Hezbollah's right to veto legislation wouldn't be reinstated by the new Lebanese government.

BEIRUT (AP) ? The European Union's foreign affairs chief held talks Saturday with a Hezbollah legislator in the first meeting between a senior EU diplomat and the Iranian-backed militant Shiite group.

A senior EU official holds talks for the first time with a politician from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement.

MANILA, Philippines ? The formidable Lebanon national team, three-time runner-up in the FIBA Asia Championship, is holding camp in the Philippines from July 27 to August 3.

LEBANON (June 13, 2009): GoDeepMud.com will hold the second mud-racing event of its inaugural season beginning at 11 a.m. on June 28 at 270 Carl Broggi Highway (Route 202) in East Lebanon behind the JustChevyTrucks.com garage.

The opposition led by Hezbollah?s coalition received 55 per cent of the vote (840,000) but only 45 per cent of the seats (57), explains Esam Al-Amin .

Hariri strikes conciliatory tone on Hezbollah weapons, slams Israeli actions in Lebanon.

Lebanon: InterContinental Mzaar team is very glad to announce that the resort is reopening its doors as of Monday June 15th. [AMEInfo.com]

Lebanon: As part of its Traditional Knowledge program, the Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures, Ibsar, at the American University of Beirut (AUB) will launch the project titled Food and Health in Rural Lebanon: Options to Improve Dietary Diversity, Food Security, Livelihoods and Ecosystem Management on Friday June 19th 2009, at 3:00 pm at the AUB AREC in Housh Sneid, Baalbeck. [AMEInfo.com]

Lebanon's new leaders have a shot at rebuilding the country's economy. Will they seize it?

Western politician favoured to become Lebanon's next prime minister is setting aside the explosive issue of disarming the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, saying Friday he hopes for unity with his political foes in the sharply divided country.

The pro-Western politician favored to become Lebanon's next prime minister is setting aside the explosive issue of disarming the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, saying Friday he hopes for unity with his political foes in the sharply divided country.

LEBANON ? The official groundbreaking for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Northwest will be held Tuesday, June 23.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Saad al-Hariri on Friday gave his strongest indication yet that he would become Lebanon's next prime minister after his U.S.- and Saudi-backed alliance won this week's parliamentary election.

America will not push for a peace deal in the Middle East at the expense of Lebanon, President Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell said on a visit to Beirut on Friday.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 12 (UPI) -- The victory for the Western-backed March 14 slate in the Lebanese parliamentary election brings much needed stability and legitimacy to Beirut, an analyst says.

LEBANON ? American Legion Post 51 will be retiring old, tattered and torn flags at a ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot, 480 Main St. Sunday is June 14, which is Flag Day.

by Yara Bayoumy BEIRUT - U.S. envoy George Mitchell said on Friday a Middle East peace agreement would not come at Lebanon's expense and praised this week's election as an "important milestone" for the country. Mitchell, who has Lebanese roots, is on a tour that has taken him to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt and Jordan as part of U.S. President Barack Obama's Arab-Israeli peace push. He is due to ...

BEIRUT (AFP)--The U.S. will not sacrifice Lebanon as it seeks to reach comprehensive peace in the Middle East, U.S. envoy George Mitchell said on a visit to Beirut Friday.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman stressed that the next cabinet should include both the majority and the opposition, Al-Akhbar daily reported Friday. "Consensus is my ultimate objective, the president is the guarantee for the majority and the opposition and both should join the next cabinet," Suleiman was quoted as telling the daily in his interview. Suleiman affirmed that "the president is ...

BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. envoy George Mitchell said on Friday a Middle East peace agreement would not come at Lebanon's expense and praised this week's election as an "important milestone" for the country.

LEBANON Students and staff members at the Lebanon Borough School recognized Memorial Day with an assembly for kindergarten through sixth grade students held on Friday, May 22.

A small bomb containing 200 grams (7 ounces) of explosives sent to Beirut's General Security headquarters was defused on Friday after failing to explode because of a technical glitch, security sources said.

BEIRUT (AFP)--U.S. envoy George Mitchell arrived in Beirut Friday on the latest leg of a tour aimed at reviving the stalled Middle East peace process.

US envoy George Mitchell arrived in Beirut on the latest leg of a tour aimed at reviving the stalled Middle East peace process.

The elections in Lebanon and Iran matter, but how much they matter depends entirely on how free, open and fair they are.

Sydney, Jun 11 (PTI) Indian students today alleged that Lebanese youths were behind the racially-motivated attacks on them here as they took to the streets for the third consecutive night protesting against racial attacks.

BEIRUT ? Lebanon's voters have handed a clear defeat to the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance. In a smoothly run and peaceful election, the pro-Western March 14 alliance emerged with a clear majority of 71 seats, compared to 58 seats for its rivals. The results elicited a nearly audible sigh of relief from Arab capitals, as well as from leaders in Europe and North America. The fear that the ...

American University of Beirut (AUB) President Peter F. Dorman announced Thursday that Mohamed H. Sayegh, MD of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts has been selected as the university's next vice president for medical affairs and Raja N. Khuri dean of the faculty of medicine and the AUB Medical Center (AUBMC).

MP-elect Sleiman Franjieh has decided to move to live in Beirut from the northern town of Bnashi in order to be close to Parliament, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Thursday. It said Franjieh plans to stand alongside Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun "in the face of the war launched against them by [March 14 Forces] Christians."

Indian students on Thursday alleged that Lebanese youths were behind the racially-motivated attacks on them in Australia as they took to the streets for the third consecutive night protesting against racial attacks.

The LBCC Lebanon and Sweet Home centers are offering computer classes for summer enrollment.

BROWNSVILLE ? Two Lebanon teens remained hospitalized Tuesday following a one-vehicle rollover late Saturday night on Washburn Heights.

Lebanon High School grad Jordan Bertram takes a picture with Jake Hess before the start of commencement Tuesday at Heath Stadium.

Lebanon: American University of Beirut President Peter F. Dorman, announced today that Mohamed H. Sayegh, MD of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, has been selected as the Universitys next Vice President for Medical Affairs, and Raja N. Khuri Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and the AUB Medical Center (AUBMC). [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT Fears of a hard-line Iran helped swing Christian voters from the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and deliver election victory to a pro-Western coalition in Lebanon. President Barack Obama's outreach to Muslims lingered in voters' minds, too.

Source: Reuters By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent BEIRUT, June 11 (Reuters) - Despite its defeat in Lebanon's election, the powerful Iranian-backed Hezbollah group suffered no erosion of support in its own ...

Kigali ? Local athletes will engage in a fierce battle to beat minimum qualification times for the 6th Francophone Games set for September 27- Oct. 6 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanese security forces detained the two sisters Josephine and Georgette Mussa while leaving Beirut airport after confiscating Israeli passports with them.

BEIRUT: Prices of gasoline and kerosene in Lebanon rose for the fourth consecutive week Wednesday amid indications that the volatile oil market would add more pressure on the transport and production sectors.

Lebanese majority leader Saad Hariri said Wednesday that he was ready to head the new government after his coalition won the parliamentary elections on Sunday, reported an Italian TV station. "I did not have the experience and was not ready after my father's assassination to take office, but now after four years I do not fear taking this position," Hariri was quoted by Italian TV Rai Uno as ...

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Two sisters were arrested in Lebanon for having Israeli passports. One of the two women, who flew to Beirut International airport a few days ago, voted in Sunday's Lebanese elections, reported the Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television network.

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama has called Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to congratulate him on his country's parliamentary election. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Wednesday said Obama praised Lebanon's interior ministry and security services for a safe election.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 10 (UPI) -- The leader of the ruling March 14 coalition that secured the majority in the Sunday parliamentary elections in Lebanon opened the door to the opposition.

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama has called Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to congratulate him on his country's parliamentary election.

In Beirut I, the electoral district including much of eastern Beirut, the margin of victory between each of the five winners and losers of Sunday's parliamentary polls was nearly the same. Each of the candidates on the winning March 14 ticket received between 19,281 and 19,985 votes, and each of the losing opposition candidates got between 16,421 and 17,209 votes.

US President Barack Obama called Lebanese President Michel Sleiman Wednesday to congratulate him on Sunday's legislative elections and promise to strengthen bilateral relations, the White House said.

Fears of a hard-line Iran helped swing Christian voters from the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and deliver election victory to a pro-Western coalition in Lebanon. President Barack Obama's outreach to Muslims lingered in voters' minds, too.

June 10 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanon?s pro-Western coalition said it won?t give Hezbollah and its allies a veto over government policy after it beat them in elections last week.

LEBANON. It may not feature prominently on most people's holiday destinations lists but then Simon Main is not most people. What's he up to?

BEIRUT (AFP)--Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urged Lebanese leaders to work together after the weekend election, in a telephone call Wednesday to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urged Lebanese leaders to work together after the weekend election, in a telephone call on Wednesday to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman.

Injaz Al-Arab is enthusiastically preparing for its 'Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition 2009', which will see students from 12 Arab nations contending for the winning title from June 21-23 2009 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanon: Injaz Al-Arab is enthusiastically preparing for its Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition 2009, which will see students from 12 Arab nations contending for the winning title from June 21-23 2009 in Beirut, Lebanon. [AMEInfo.com]

Israel fears Hezbollah may get US arms for Lebanon while Hezbollah continues to enjoy popular support.

Lebanon: Bank Audi SAL - Audi Saradar Group was granted the Best Bank in Lebanon award at the 2009 Euromoney Awards for Excellence Middle East ceremony. [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT: Lebanon's Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that five people were diagnosed on Saturday with the deadly A(H1N1) virus, otherwise known as swine flu, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to eight.

TAUNTON ? Comparing the streets of New Bedford to Beirut, defense attorney Kevin Reddington said jurors should consider the city's history of gang violence in weighing the fate of murder defendant David "Crunchy" DePina.

(RTTNews) - George Mitchell, U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East, currently on a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, will visit Lebanon and Syria this weekend to make a new push for Israeli-Palestinian talks, the U.S. State Department announced Tuesday.

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed his hope for the quick formation of a new Lebanese government following Sunday's elections. Ban made separate telephone calls to Lebanese leaders on Tuesday morning, including President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, his spokesperson Marie Okabe said. "He congratulated them on the elections and expressed the hope that the ...

Saad Hariri, the billionaire businessman, is emerging as the favourite to lead Lebanon's government.

WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) -- The U.S.-based National Democratic Institute praised the Lebanese people for successful elections, reminding the global community of Beirut's sovereignty.

Saad Hariri, the billionaire businessman and son of a slain former prime minister, is emerging as the favourite to lead Lebanon's government after his pro-Western coalition fended off a serious challenge from Iranian-backed Hezbollah in weekend elections.

Some 67 resident doctors graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB) Medical Center after completing their training in one of 30 areas of specialty in medicine, a university statement said on Tuesday. Professor Nadim Cortas, the dean of the faculty of medicine, said.

The Turkish Embassy in Beirut on Tuesday called the recent parliamentary elections a victory for the Lebanese people. "We welcome that the Lebanese parliamentary elections held yesterday took place in line with democratic values and in a calm environment.

FIVE new cases of swine flu were discovered in Lebanon overnight but were under control, the health ministry said, bringing the total number of cases there to eight.

WASHINGTON (AFP)--U.S. envoy George Mitchell is to visit Syria and Lebanon later this week as part of efforts for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Tuesday.

Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy for the Middle East, George Mitchell, will visit Syria later this week and also stop over in Lebanon where elections were held last weekend, the State ...

Five new cases of swine flu were discovered in Lebanon on Tuesday but were under control, the health ministry said, bringing the total number of cases there to eight.

Washington Post: In four tumultuous years, Saad Hariri, the billionaire at the center of Lebanese politics, has weathered his father's assassination, a war with Israel and a near civil collapse when the Shiite Hezbollah party seized Lebanon's capital

BEIRUT - Lebanon's pro-West coalition's victory over militant group Hezbollah in the weekend election showdown is expected to boost confidence in the country's economy,

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanon?s pro-Western coalition, after beating Hezbollah and its allies at the ballot box, needs to placate the armed Shiite group to prevent sectarian divisions from flaring into fresh violence, analysts say.

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanese stocks surged, with Blom Bank SAL jumping the most in almost three years, after the country?s ruling pro-Western coalition defeated the Iran-backed Hezbollah bloc in the June 7 election.

BEIRUT (AFP)--U.S. envoy George Mitchell and E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana are due in Lebanon this week following elections that saw a Hezbollah-led alliance defeated by a pro-West coalition, officials said Tuesday.

Lebanon: Alfa, the Lebanese mobile operator managed since February 1, 2009 by Orascom Telecom, leader mobile operator in the Mena region and South Asia, announced that since June 1, 2009, all its subscribers can keep themselves updated with the most current local and international news by getting breaking news headlines on their mobile for free. [AMEInfo.com]

ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Lebanese leaders on their achievements in the parliamentary election.

Lebanon: Clemenceau Medical Center from Beirut has been revealed as the front runner in the shortlist of Middle East healthcare facilities named in the inaugural Hospital Build Awards, with five nominations. [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT, June 9 (Reuters) - Shares in Lebanese real estate company Solidere climbed 15 percent on Tuesday following a parliamentary election win for an alliance led by billionaire politician Saad al-Hariri. Solidere's A share was 15.0 percent higher at $23.01, with its B shares 14.9 percent higher at the same price. Turnover was heavy in both stocks. The BLOM stock index was 6.3 percent higher at ...

BEIRUT, June 9 (Reuters) - Shares in Lebanese real estate firm Solidere climbed 15 percent on Tuesday following a parliamentary election win for an alliance led by billionaire politician Saad al-Hariri.

June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanon?s pro-Western coalition needs an accommodation with Hezbollah after beating the armed Shiite group and its allies at the ballot box, to prevent sectarian divisions flaring into fresh violence, analysts say.

The pro-west coalition's narrow win in Beirut is the first indication that the US president's Middle East message is being heard Foreign policy experts and commentators have been trying to elucidate an "Obama doctrine" ever since the new US president took office. Lebanon's surprise election result , in which a pro-western coalition narrowly triumphed, suggests these analysts have got things the ...

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Monday congratulated Lebanon on the peaceful conduct of its parliamentary elections, calling on all Lebanese to respect the results, Ban's associate spokesperson Farhan Haq said. The secretary-general urged Lebanese to work together in the spirit of coexistence and democracy, Haq told a regular news briefing. "The secretary-general hopes that the process of ...

BEIRUT, Lebanon ? There were many domestic reasons why voters handed an American-backed coalition a victory in Lebanese parliamentary elections Sunday ? but political analysts also attribute it in part to President Barack Obama's campaign of outreach to the Arab and Muslim world.

The decisive electoral victory for the ruling pro-Western coalition in Lebanon on Sunday has taken almost everyone by surprise.

BEIRUT - Lebanon's western-backed coalition dealt a major election setback to Hezbollah and its Syrian and Iranian backers Monday, removing an obstacle to Barack Obama's Middle East peace push.

BEIRUT, Jun 7 (Reuters) Lebanese crowded peacefully to the polls today in a high-stakes parliamentary election that pits Hezbollah and its allies, backed by Syria and Iran, against an anti-Syrian bloc that has US and Saudi support.

A pro-Western coalition won Lebanon's parliamentary elections Monday, dealing a major setback to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and giving a boost to Barack Obama's Middle East peace policy.

Lebanese American University (LAU) president, Dr. Joseph Jabbra, hosted former United States President Jimmy Carter at his residence, along with members of Lebanon's business community. President Carter and Dr. Jabbra discussed issues surrounding the country and the region.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah accepted on Monday the result of a parliamentary election in Lebanon in which his U.S.-backed opponents secured a majority over the Iranian-backed group and its allies.

BEIRUT (AFP)--Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Monday acknowledged the defeat of his opposition alliance by a pro-Western bloc in Lebanon's parliamentary election.

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement Monday expressing hope that Lebanese general elections would bring permanent peace and stability to the country.

JERUSALEM, June 8 (UPI) -- Israel is closely monitoring the Lebanese general election results, which showed a win for the western-backed coalition over Hezbollah.

Preliminary election results in Lebanon show that an American-backed alliance has defeated Hezbollah. The March 14 coalition reportedly has retained a majority in the 128-seat Parliament, according to reports, but Hezbollah will still have a place in the Lebanese government.

Associated Press - June 8, 2009 11:33 AM ET WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is congratulating the Lebanese people for a peaceful national election held with "courage" and a "commitment...

BEIRUT (AFP) - A pro-Western bloc inflicted a surprise defeat on Hezbollah and its allies at the ballot box in Lebanon, final results showed on Monday, as the winners faced a battle to keep the nation together.

US President Barack Obama Monday welcomed the results of Lebanon's elections urging the new leaders to work to build a stable, independent nation, but warning they must govern by consent not coercion.

President Barack Obama is congratulating the Lebanese people for a peaceful national election held with "courage" and a "commitment to democracy."

BEIRUT (AFP)--International monitors Monday said Lebanon's election, which saw a Western-backed alliance defeat a Hezbollah-led coalition, was highly polarized but overall calm and organized.

Nayla Tueni, daughter of slain Lebanese politician and newspaper editor Gebran Tueni, has succeeded in her bid to replace her father in Lebanon's parliament.

BEIRUT - Lebanon's Western-backed coalition defeated Hezbollah and its allies, according to official results today that dealt a stunning setback to the Iranian-backed...

The Lebanese election result provides Barack Obama with his first victory in the Middle East as the failure of Hizbollah to take power through the ballot box is a positive blow for moderates in the region.

Lebanon's pro-Western bloc will retain its control of the country's government despite a strong challenge from a Hezbollah-dominated alliance, according to official election results released Monday.

Lebanon's Western-backed coalition defeated Hezbollah and its allies, according to official results Monday that dealt a stunning setback to the Iranian-backed militants and set the stage for renewed political deadlock in the volatile nation.

Official results released a day after Lebanon's hotly-contested elections confirm victory for the pro-Western 14 March coalition.

BEIRUT -- An anti-Syrian coalition defeated Hezbollah and its main Christian ally, Michel Aoun, in Lebanon's parliamentary election yesterday, both sides said. If confirmed, the result would be a blow to Syria and Iran, which back Hezbollah, and...

(Adds quotes, background.) BEIRUT (AFP)--Hezbollah Monday warned the Western-backed coalition that won Lebanon's election that its weapons arsenal wasn't a subject open to discussion.

BEIRUT (AFP) - A pro-Western bloc inflicted a surprise defeat on Hezbollah and its allies at the ballot box in Lebanon, the rival camps said on Monday, but the winner now faces a battle to keep the nation together.

Jerusalem - Israel called Monday on the next Lebanese government to stop the smuggling of arms to Hezbollah via Syria and the sea. It is incumbent upon any government that is formed in Beirut to ensure that Lebanon will not be used as a base for vio...

JERUSALEM (AFP)--The new government in Lebanon must act to prevent attacks from its territory against Israel, the Israeli foreign ministry said Monday following elections in Beirut won by a pro-Western coalition.

The full results aren't yet official, but it appears that Lebanon's American-backed ruling coalition maintained its majority in parliament after the country voted in record numbers yesterday.

BEIRUT, Lebanon ?- Pierre Daher Haddad doesn't stand a chance of winning a seat in Lebanon's parliamentary elections today. A Christian running as an independent for a seat designated to a Muslim, his campaign technically may not even be legal. But that's not the point.

BEIRUT, Lebanon ? The U.S.-backed political alliance of Lebanese parties claimed to have fended off a strong challenge from a coalition led by Hezbollah on Sunday in a closely watched election that could have major repercussions.

Saad Hariri, the leader of Lebanon's Sunni-dominated "March 14 coalition," claimed victory hours after the polls closed in Sunday's crucial election.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A surprise victory in Lebanon by an anti-Syrian coalition against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies should be confirmed on Monday with the release of official results of the country's parliamentary election.

A surprise victory in Lebanon by an anti-Syrian coalition against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies should be confirmed on Monday with the release of official results of the country's parliamentary election.

Australia's Lebanese community says while people's politics might be different, everyone is happy Lebanon's election went relatively peacefully.

Lebanese voters turned out in large numbers yesterday in closely-fought parliamentary elections that pitted the armed Shia Hizbollah movement and its allies against the current pro-western majority.

June 8 (Bloomberg) -- Saad Hariri, the leader of the pro- Western coalition in Lebanon, claimed victory over the Iranian- backed Hezbollah bloc in parliamentary elections.

Lebanese polling stations closed down on Sunday evening, ending 12 hours of tight contest between the ruling majority and the opposition to determine the next parliament, Beirut's New TV reported. Lebanese voters cast their ballots in the crucial parliamentary elections and heated contest which recorded an average turnover of more than 48 percent, amid heavy security measures that succeeded to ...

BEIRUT - Lebanon's pro-Western coalition declared victory early today, as local television stations reported the faction had successfully fended off a serious challenge by the Shiite militant group Hizbollah and its allies to grab the majority in parliament.

The Daily Star went to press Sunday night, exit polls showed the March 14 coalition winning a clean sweep in the district, with voter turnout estimated at 44 percent.

Lebanon's pro-Western coalition declared victory early Monday, as local television stations reported the faction had successfully fended off a serious challenge by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies to grab the majority in parliament.

BEIRUT - Lebanon's ruling pro-Western coalition appeared headed for a decisive political victory over its Iranian-backed Hezbollah rivals early Monday in the Middle East nation's most fiercely contested parliamentary election in decades.

The leader of Lebanon's governing pro-Western coalition claims victory over the Hezbollah-led bloc in a tight election.

BEIRUT (AFP)--Saad Hariri, leader of a pro-Western coalition in Lebanon, claimed victory on Monday in a closely-fought election race against an alliance headed by the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of the anti-Syrian coalition Saad al-Hariri declared victory over Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday.

BEIRUT (AFP)--The Shiite Muslim fundamentalist party Hezbollah said all its 11 candidates in Lebanon's election on Sunday won seats in the new 128-member parliament, but would not comment on the overall results.

The leader of the anti-Syrian coalition Saad al-Hariri declared victory over Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday.

An anti-Syrian coalition defeated Hezbollah and its main Christian ally Michel Aoun in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday, sources on both sides said.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - An anti-Syrian coalition defeated Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday, sources on both sides said.

An anti-Syrian coalition defeated Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday, sources on both sides said.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon was anxiously awaiting the results of a hotly-contested election on Sunday that could see an alliance led by the Hezbollah militant group unseat the pro-Western majority in parliament.

BEIRUT: Lebanese voted en masse on Sunday in a hotly-contested election that could see an alliance led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group defeat the Western-backed majority in parliament.

BEIRUT (AFP)--Turnout in Sunday's high-stakes Lebanese general election pitting a Western-backed coalition against an alliance led by Hezbollah was a record 52%, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud said.

Lebanese voters turned out in huge numbers to cast ballots in a parliamentary election described as a showdown between Iranian and American influence.

Lebanese voted en masse on Sunday in a hotly-contested election that could see an alliance led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group defeat the Western-backed majority in parliament.

BEIRUT (AFP)--Polling officially ended at 1600 GMT on Sunday in Lebanon's hotly contested general election, which pitted the Western-backed majority in parliament against an alliance led by Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Beirut - Lebanese voted for a new parliament on Sunday in what was expected to be a close contest between the western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition. Interior ministry sources said turnout was around 55-65 per cent, with polling in ...

Lebanese voted en masse on Sunday in a hotly-contested election that could see an alliance led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah defeat the Western-backed majority in parliament.

BEIRUT - Lebanese voted Sunday in a crucial election that could unseat a pro-western government and install one dominated by Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese crowded peacefully to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes parliamentary election that pits Hezbollah and its allies, backed by Syria and Iran, against an anti-Syrian bloc that has U.S. and Saudi support.

Lebanese crowded peacefully to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes parliamentary election that pits Hezbollah and its allies, backed by Syria and Iran, against an anti-Syrian bloc that has U.S. and Saudi support.

At least 50,000 police and security personnel have been deployed for a crucial parliamentary election in Lebanon that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Source: IRIN Sectarianism is playing a more central role in Lebanon's highly contested parliamentary elections on 7 June, which analysts say could see the country facing increased political instability. The vote pits the Western-backed ruling coalition, predominantly made up of Sunni, Christian and Druze parties, against the Hezbollah-led opposition, mostly composed of Shia Muslims and Christians.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese crowded peacefully to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes parliamentary election that pits Hezbollah and its allies, backed by Syria and Iran , against an anti-Syrian bloc that has U.S. and Saudi support.

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Lebanese voters went to the polls in an election that could bring Hezbollah to power. The elections began at 7 a.m. Sunday. Polls will remain open for 12 hours.

A Lebanese woman shows her ink-stained finger after casting her ballot at a polling station in Beirut's Christian sector of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Sunday, June 7, 2009. Lebanese streamed to their hometowns on the Mediterranean coast and high up in the mountains Sunday to vote in crucial elections that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed militant ...

BEIRUT - Lebanese streamed to their hometowns on the Mediterranean coast and high in the mountains Sunday to vote in a crucial election that could unseat a pro-Western government...

DAMASCUS (AFP)--Syria's official Al-Baath daily said the Sunday's election in Lebanon was a chance for voters to throw their weight behind the anti-Israeli resistance as represented by Hezbollah.

Lebanon went to the polls on Sunday, with voters facing a choice between the current pro-Western government and an alliance led by the Iranian-backed Islamist group Hezbollah, media reports say.

Elections that could unseat a pro-American government and install one dominated by Hezbollah began Sunday.

Beirut, 7 giu.

BEIRUT - Lebanese streamed to their hometowns on the Mediterranean coast and high in the mountains Sunday to vote in a crucial election that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies are looking to defeat Lebanon's ruling U.S.-backed coalition in a tightly contested general election on Sunday.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies are looking to defeat Lebanon's ruling U.S.-backed coalition in a tightly contested general election on Sunday.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies are looking to defeat Lebanon's ruling U.S.-backed coalition in a tightly contested general election on Sunday.

Associated Press - June 7, 2009 3:53 AM ET BEIRUT (AP) - Crucial elections are under way in Lebanon that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed...

Associated Press - June 7, 2009 3:53 AM ET BEIRUT (AP) - Crucial elections are under way in Lebanon that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed...

June 7 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanese began voting today in parliamentary elections that may oust the pro-Western coalition of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora , with the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies tipped to gain seats.

Lebanese streamed to their hometowns to vote in crucial elections that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

BEIRUT ? Lebanese streamed to their hometowns on the Mediterranean coast and high up in the mountains Sunday to vote in crucial elections that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

A new parliament to be elected in Lebanon on Sunday will be apportioned among Christian and Muslim sects under a power-sharing formula that also divvies up Lebanon's main leadership positions by religion.

Lebanese army forces fanned out before dusk Saturday in key Beirut political battlegrounds as the nation made last-minute...

SAAD HARIRI: After former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated on Feb. 14, 2005, his 39-year-old son inherited the family's political mantle. The billionaire businessman heads the largest bloc in parliament and is competing for a Sunni Muslim seat in Beirut.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese voted in a parliamentary election on Sunday in which the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies will try to overturn the majority held by their Western-backed rivals.

June 7 (Bloomberg) -- Lebanese began voting today in parliamentary elections that may oust the pro-Western coalition of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora , with the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies tipped to gain seats.

Source: Reuters * Lebanese vote amid tight security, no reports of violence * President urges voting "calmly and with joy" * Hezbollah and allies face U.S.-backed rivals in close race (Recasts, ...

Lebanon goes to the polls in a high-stakes election that could see an Iranian-backed coalition headed by Hezbollah taken the parliamentary majority from a Western-backed alliance.

BEIRUT - Lebanon goes to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes election that could see an Iranian-backed coalition headed by Hezbollah taken the parliamentary majority from a Western-backed alliance.

Lebanon goes to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes election that could see an Iranian-backed coalition headed by Hezbollah take the parliamentary majority.

Beirut: Lebanese voters go to the polls today for a Parliamentary election showdown between the ruling Western-backed coalition and factions led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Source: Reuters * Lebanese vote in parliamentary election on Sunday * Hezbollah and allies face U.S.-backed rivals in tight race BEIRUT, June 7 (Reuters) - Hezbollah and its allies will try to overturn the ...

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 6 (UPI) -- A win by a Hezbollah-backed coalition in Sunday's Lebanese parliamentary elections may not be disaster the West and Israel fear, analysts say.

BEIRUT - Lebanese voters go to the polls on Sunday for a parliamentary election showdown between the ruling Western-backed coalition and factions led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Lebanese media, long considered the Arab world's trailblazers, have declined in terms of freedom and balanced coverage, with management reluctant to reveal details about inner...

BEIRUT (AFP)--Lebanese voters go to the polls on Sunday for a parliamentary election showdown between the ruling Western-backed coalition and factions led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

BEIRUT - A look at Lebanon, which holds parliamentary elections Sunday:

BEIRUT ? Lebanese voters face a stark choice Sunday between renewing the mandate of a pro-Western coalition or handing power to a Hezbollah-led alliance that could bring international isolation and new conflict with Israel upon the small, tumultuous country.

BEIRUT - Lebanese voters face a stark choice Sunday between renewing the mandate of a pro-western coalition or handing power to a Hezbollah-led alliance that could bring international isolation and new conflict with Israel upon the small, tumultuous country.

Key players in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Lebanon:

Lebanon's divided Christians will swing the vote in the crucial parliamentary election, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut.

Lebanon's Maronite Christian patriarch said on Saturday his country faced a threat to its existence, appearing to take sides against Hezbollah on the eve of an election whose outcome will be decided by the Christian vote.

BEIRUT - Lebanese voters go to the polls on Sunday for a parliamentary election showdown between the ruling Western-backed coalition and factions led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Don"t count Lebanon out among the teams to contend with in the coming 2009 FIBA-Asia men"s basketball championship in Tianjin, China. The Lebanese national squad officially naturalized former NBA draftee Jackson Vroman and is expected to suit up for the team in the August 6 to 16 meet.

Lebanon goes to the polls on Sunday with the main choices a Hezbollah-backed alliance or the U.S-backed coalition to lead their government.

BEIRUT, Jun 06, 2009 (AFP) - Lebanese voters go to the polls on Sunday for a crucial parliamentary election that will see a showdown between the ruling Western-backed coalition and factions led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

September 1 - The state of Greater Lebanon is created after France is granted a mandate for Lebanon and Syria by the League of Nations.

Campaigning closes for Lebanon's fiercely-contested elections, with voting set to begin on Sunday amid tight security.

LEBANON ? District officials will add back $150,000 in personnel to the 2009-10 school year under a budget approved Thursday by the Lebanon school district?s budget committee.

Lebanon: Noor International Holding and Contour are pleased to officially announce their strategic cooperation through the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding that will initially and primarily focus on theme park development and entertainment design, depending on the nature of the project. [AMEInfo.com]

BEIRUT, Lebanon ? When voters go to the polls here Sunday, they will be surrounded by campaign signs and banners declaring this to be an election of almost apocalyptic significance.

BEIRUT -- Sami Gemayel's name alone may have made politics his destiny. His grandfather was a leader of almost feudal power in Lebanon's Christian community. His uncle and father were presidents. But the outspoken 27-year-old never envisioned running for parliament, especially not as one of the y...

The power struggle in Lebanon is usually defined as Shia versus Sunni. But when the country goes to the polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament, the most heated contests will be in districts such as the Metn, the mountains above east Beirut, and among the region's Christian voters.

Expatriate Lebanese and observers are flooding into the nation for Sunday's vote. A victory by a coalition led by the militant group Hezbollah could have international ramifications. Along narrow streets and terraced mountain roads, tens of thousands Lebanese troops have spread out. At Beirut's airport, Lebanese living abroad continue to flood in, eager to vote in Sunday's general elections.

The large number of Lebanese expatriates returning to the country to vote in tomorrow's crucial parliamentary election could impact the result, experts are saying. There have been tens of thousands of expats arriving into Beirut International Airport in the lead up to Sunday's election, most flights coming from North America.

Campaigning is drawing to a close in Lebanon's fiercely contested elections with voting due to begin on Sunday.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 5 (UPI) -- Whatever the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Lebanon, the international community should respect Beirut and push for a unity government, analysts say.

Lebanon holds parliamentary elections on June 7, 2009. The main question at stake is whether the country's Hezbollah-led "March 8" coalition will defeat its Western-backed "March 14" coalition. Analysts expect a close vote, and many see a narrow victory for March 8 as likely.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese candidates canvassed for votes on Friday, the last day of campaigning before a parliamentary vote in which Shi'ite Hezbollah and its allies hope to reverse the anti-Syrian coalition's majority.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter and other international monitors urged the Lebanese to vote peacefully in Sunday's crucial parliamentary election and to accept the results.