Lebanon’s President, Michel Suleiman, said on Thursday that arms in the country are hindering national accord. “The problem of arms in the country hinders national accord, as their purpose is not determined,” said Suleiman in a televised address on the eve of Lebanon’s independence celebrations. Suleiman continued: “We should not speak of independence unless the […]

Traumatized by what they have endured inside Syria and fearful for their future, Christians fleeing the 32-month-long civil war say the persecution of Christians is worsening in rebel-held territories in the country’s north—and that the kidnapping, rape and executions of Christians aren’t just being carried out by jihadist groups, but also by other Sunni Muslim […]

BEIRUT: Western officials joined Lebanese leaders Tuesday in condemning the two deadly suicide bombings that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and senior foreign officials using the incident to reiterate support for Lebanon’s stability. Lebanese leaders, meanwhile, called for national unity in the face of attempts to destabilize the country. […]

khazen.org condemns the terrorists attacks at Jinah, Beirut. We pray for the victims

BBC news, At least 22 people have been killed and more than 140 injured in a double suicide bombing outside the Iranian embassy in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

The anti-Hezbollah group Abdullah Azzam Brigades said it was behind the attack. The head of the al-Qaeda-linked group described the attack as a "double martyrdom operation carried out by two heroes from the heroic Sunnis of Lebanon". The Syrian conflict has increased sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

Lebanese Sunni Muslim fighters have joined forces with the mainly Sunni rebels in Syria. Some of the rebel groups are affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Shia Muslim Iran is a major backer of Hezbollah, as well as Mr Assad’s government.= Mr Assad comes from the Alawite sect, a heterodox offshoot of Shia Islam.

The BBC’s Paul Wood, in Beirut, says the number of people killed in Tuesday’s attack makes it one of the worst in Shia southern Beirut since the war across the border in Syria began. But more significantly, he says, it is the first attack on an Iranian target.

Burning cars Lebanese officials said the first suicide attacker was on a motorcycle, while the second was in a four-wheel drive vehicle.

TV images showed burning cars, bodies on the street and damaged buildings. The Iranian ambassador in Beirut had earlier confirmed cultural attache Ebrahim Ansari’s death to Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV, saying it was not clear if he had been in the embassy itself or one of the residential buildings nearby.

However, the Iranian foreign ministry now says he is alive.

When you tell someone in Lebanon that you use a bicycle to get around Beirut, expect only one answer: a shocked silent face followed by an expression of dismay, a slow disapproving tilt of the head, and a final questioning of the state of your mental health. “Are you crazy?” “You are going to be […]

The Guardian newspaper"

If there is one group that has suffered as a result of the establishment of the state of Israel and its support by Western Christian countries, it is the historic Christians of the Middle East – who are now the victims of persecution throughout the region and scapegoats of an angry nationalism. This is one reason why the churches with historic links to Palestinian Christians are much less pro-Israel than those which don’t, like the majority of American Baptists.

George W Bush signed up for a fundraising event for the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute, an organisation which aims to promote the second coming by converting Jews to Christianity, and will speak today at their fundraiser in Irving, Texas.

Such "Messianic Jews" – who accept that Jesus was the promised Messiah – are loathed by most other Jews.

It is rare for the Lebanese to be on time for anything, but give them an election and they will arrive before deadline. The presidential election may be nearly six months away, but already the different political forces are getting into position, their aim to ensure that whoever succeeds President Michel Suleiman will advance, or […]

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on politicians on Sunday to form an all-embracing government, hold the presidential elections on time and agree on a vote law as Catholic Patriarchs headed to Rome to meet with the pope. “Lebanon’s cause is our cause,” al-Rahi told reporters at Rafik Hariri International Airport before boarding his plane. Politicians […]

BEIRUT: Beirut Mayor Bilal Hamad denied any intention or decision to demolish the old stairs in Mar Mikhael. The proposed destruction of a public staircase in the Ashrafieh neighborhood drew sharp criticism from the local community. The Massaad stairs, better known as the Mar Mikhael stairs, serve as a public gathering space, a performing arts […]

A meeting will be held on Friday between President Michel Suleiman and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki on the sidelines of issuing the memorial book on the official visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon. According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday the behind-closed doors meeting will address Suleiman’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia […]