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The cardinal returns to the difficult process of choosing Aoun's successor. Already five parliamentary sessions have ended in a deadlock. The rift - albeit without naming names - with Hezbollah is deepening. The disagreements over Article 49. Lebanese patriarchs and bishops launch special "Truth and Reconciliation" commission. Beirut (AsiaNews) - The suspicions put forward by the Maronite patriarch are serious and destined to cause discussion. During his last homily at Sunday Mass, the cardinal spoke of Lebanon's adversaries "who do not want to elect a president, considering it unnecessary or of relative importance that he be a Maronite Christian" as...

A huge oil spill in the eastern Mediterranean has caused colossal damage to Israel’s beaches, now gooey with clumps of tar that thousands of volunteers are laboriously picking out of the sand. It has been an unparalleled ecological disaster that has already done, and will continue to do, great harm to the coastal flora and fauna. It has devastated the local economy. For at least a year, and some estimates suggest much longer, tourists and locals will not be able to use the beaches; many will have to seek alternatives abroad. Coastal businesses in Israel, from vacation rentals to restaurants,...

PARIS – The Lebanese president says he wants some 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in his country to henceforth start returning to their homes, voluntarily or NOT. President Michel Aoun, in a state visit to France, said Monday that U.N. assistance given to aid Syrian refugees in "camps of misery" in Lebanon would be better used to return them to their country "from now on." "We don't want to wait for their voluntary return," Aoun insisted, speaking at the Elysee Palace alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. Aoun said that most of the Syrian regions from which the refugees hail are...

Funding for the conference was provided by Clinton donor and Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, according to organizers. The wealthy businessman pledged $1 billion to the Clinton Global Initiative in 2009. Chagoury is also reportedly backer of Lebanese politician Michel Aoun, Hezbollah’s top Christian ally in the country, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks. Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Raï, who was scheduled to speak during the same keynote slot as Cruz on Wednesday evening, has called Israel an “enemy state that is occupying Lebanese territory” and defended Hezbollah’s right to attack the Jewish state... (Snip) “I decided we should be present and...

In a Naharnet posting on May 18, Gen. Michel Aoun is quoted as saying that Maronite Bishops "are not responsible for political life, but rather for spiritual life. In their capacity as citizens they are eligible to deal with political issues." In other words, Gen. Michel Aoun is applying the principle of the separation of State from Religion, but only to the Christian community, since he has a very cozy alliance with a Shiite Muslim fundamentalist group whose entire leadership consists of Sheikhs and Mullahs who can’t even imagine politics outside of religion. The separation of State and Religion is...

Beirut - The assassination of Pierre Gemayel means that two more ministers need to resign or be killed in order to bring down the anti-Syrian government. As if one assassination were not enough bloodshed for one day, the murderers proceeded to target another anti-Syrian Member of Parliament - Michel Pharaon. Syria's allies in Lebanon are planning to take the streets on Thursday to demand the government resign. The pro-Syrian allies in Lebanon include Hezbollah, Michel Aoun's political party and Nabih Berri's Amal movement. Syria behind violent overthrow? As documented in the U.N. investigation, Syria has openly threatened Lebanese politicians...

The Talk Shows Sunday, August 7th, 2005 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sens. Joe Biden, D-Del., Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo; Douglas Kmiec, professor of constitutional law at Pepperdine University; Dr. Harvey Fineberg, president of the Institute Of Medicine; David Kirby, author of "Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic." FACE THE NATION (CBS): Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.; former assistant secretary of defense Bing West. THIS WEEK (ABC):...

An anti-Syrian Lebanese opposition alliance won the final phase of a parliamentary election in a landslide on Sunday, giving it a clear mandate to steer Lebanon out of Syria's shadow.An unofficial count for north Lebanon showed an alliance led by Saad al-Hariri sweeping all remaining 28 seats, while its rivals conceded they were heading for defeat.The ballot, staggered by region over four weekends, is the first for three decades with no Syrian military presence, after Damascus pulled its troops out in April."Final results show that we are ahead and show that the people have voted for change," Hariri, son of...

Lebanon's main opposition anti-Syrian alliance has claimed victory in the final round of the country's four-round parliamentary elections. The bloc led by Saad Hariri, son of the late Rafik Hariri, faced ex-Gen Michel Aoun's group in the fight for the last 28 seats at stake in northern Lebanon. Mr Hariri's group says the incomplete results set them on track for a majority in the new parliament. It was Lebanon's first vote since the Syrian troop withdrawal this year. Damascus ended its 30-year deployment in Lebanon in response to street protests and international pressure triggered by the assassination of Rafik Hariri,...

Ex-leader makes Lebanon comeback Michel Aoun's return from exile has split the anti-Syrian opposition Early results in Lebanon's key third round of elections indicate a strong showing for former Christian army chief and prime minister Michel Aoun.Mr Aoun, a long term critic of Syria, demanded the issue of Syrian influence in Lebanon be put aside and allied himself with pro-Syria candidates. The vote is the first in 30 years to be held without Syrian troops in Lebanon. Mr Aoun's showing is a blow to the main anti-Syrian opposition, which could now be denied a majority in the parliament. The...

ALEY, Lebanon (Reuters) - Anti-Syrian Christian leader Michel Aoun headed for victory against rival Christian politicians on Sunday in the most crucial round of Lebanon's parliamentary elections. The defeat of several prominent Christian figures opposed to Syria's role in Lebanon will be sure to complicate the next 128-seat parliament's task of charting the country's new political course. The elections, held over four weekends ending June 19, are set to usher in a parliament with most legislators opposed to Syria for the first time since the 1975-1990 civil war. Unofficial partial counts showed candidates backed by Aoun set to clinch 15...

BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon's Christian hardliner Michel Aoun returned home to a hero's welcome after 15 years in exile, hoping to reform the country where much-awaited legislative elections are due later this month. The anti-Syrian Aoun flew in from Paris on a specially chartered plane accompanied by close aides family members and around 50 journalists and cameramen, 12 days after the last Syrian soldier quit the country. Thunderous applause erupted on the tarmac of Beirut International Airport where hundreds of partisans and relatives, including a brother he had not seen in 15 years, his three daughters and grandchildren, greeted Aoun...

Friday, February 25, 2005 FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU'U.S. will get Syria out by May'Former Lebanese PM says war in Iraq will allow his country to be freePosted: February 25, 20059:00 a.m. Eastern By Aaron Klein © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com JERUSALEM -- The U.S. led war against terrorism and its advances in Iraq and Afghanistan have enhanced the climate in the Middle East and will enable the international community to force Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon likely by May, former Lebanese Prime Minister Michel Aoun told WorldNetDaily today in an exclusive interview. "The U.S. and EU are backing us in our movement...

US Congressman Eliot Engel said in a statement Tuesday that the Lebanese decision to charge former Army Commander General Michel Aoun with sectarian sedition was “outrageous” and demonstrated that “the Lebanese government is a Syrian puppet.” This was the first time a congressman has severely attacked the Lebanese government for pro-Syrian positions. It was also one of the rare times where American politicians have clearly commented on internal Lebanese politics. During a phone interview with The Daily Star, Engel said his position did not amount to interference in internal politics of a foreign country, adding that he was not dictating...