BEIRUT, (Reuters) - Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said on Tuesday a political agreement on a new central bank governor was required before an investigation into current head Riad Salameh could progress. He made his comments shortly after a judicial raid on the Beirut headquarters of Banque du Liban, a move Mikati denounced as inappropriate because the bank dealt with issues related to monetary stability and it could lead to an "ominous shock". "What is required is that this file be dealt with via prior political agreement on a new governor of the Banque du Liban, and that the case take its appropriate legal course after that," a statement from Mikati's office said.

Mikati's office did not respond to a request for comment on whether discussions on replacing the governor had taken place. Salameh, the central bank governor since 1993, faces corruption probes in at least five European countries and in Lebanon, which has been plunged into a deep financial crisis that critics blame, in part, on his policies. He has defended his actions and denied wrongdoing, saying the investigations are politically motivated and aim at scapegoating him for the Lebanon's financial problems. He still enjoys the support of some of Lebanon's top politicians, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Khazen.org condemns the lebanese government unjust detention of the Maronite Catholic Archbishop Mousa El-Hajj at the Naqoura border crossing as an apparent intimidation from Hezbollah and its allies - We stand with the Maronite Church -

Press release from In Defense of Christians (IDC) -- Washington, DC – In Defense of Christians (IDC) condemns the Lebanese government’s unjust detention of a Maronite Catholic Archbishop as an apparent act of intimidation against Maronite Church leadership for its public opposition to Hezbollah. On July 19, Lebanese authorities detained Maronite Catholic Archbishop Mousa El-Hajj at the Naqoura border crossing, upon his return from pastoral duties in Israel, and subjected him to an eight-hour interrogation. The Archbishop was released only after the intervention of senior church and judicial officials. The vicar has been summoned for further interrogation before a military court on Wednesday, July 20.

Archbishop El-Hajj is the Maronite Archbishop for Haifa and the Holy Land, and Patriarchal Vicar to Jerusalem, Palestine and Jordan. His arrest and detention by Lebanese authorities occurred in flagrant contempt of his pastoral duty, and further threaten Lebanon’s tradition of religious freedom. The arrest of Archbishop El-Hajj is an apparent attempt to intimidate Maronite Patriarch Rai for his opposition to Hezbollah’s political coercion. The Patriarch has publicly called for Lebanon’s full sovereignty and neutrality, and the unconditional enforcement of UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701 for the disarmament of Hezbollah. Such acts against the leaders of the Maronite Church demonstrate Iran’s coercive control over Lebanon through its proxy Hezbollah, and its malign intention to solidify Lebanon as an Iranian satellite state.

by thenationalnews.com -- Jamie Prentis -- A Lebanese judge raided the central bank in Beirut on Tuesday in search of its governor Riad Salameh, after state security forces failed to find him at one of his houses earlier in the day. Judge Ghada Aoun, a state prosecutor, has charged Mr Salameh and his brother Raja with illicit enrichment. But the 71-year-old governor could not be found, and Ms Aoun said she was unable to search for Mr Salameh in Banque du Liban's offices.

Lebanon's Information Ministry joins public sector strike “We immediately received a judicial order [to leave],” she said. Central bank employees then began a three-day strike following the raid. “The dignity of the institution and its employees comes first. We refuse to be treated with militia methods and we announce the strike”, said Abbas Awada, the head of the central bank’s employee union. “We are not defending Riad Salameh but the institution, and we do not accept these methods.”

by english.alaraby.co.uk -- Israel's army said on Monday it intercepted a drone presumed to belong to Lebanon's Hezbollah group that crossed into the self-proclaimed Jewish state. "Soldiers spotted and intercepted a drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory," an army statement said, adding that the drone "likely belongs" to the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Earlier this month, the army said it intercepted three drones launched by Hezbollah that were headed towards the Karish offshore gas field in the Mediterranean. Another Hezbollah drone "which approached Israel's economic waters" was downed in late June, according to the army. Israel regards the group as one of its principal enemies.