UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Sleiman on Friday rejected "any form" of Palestinian settlement of refugees in Lebanon, saying that their "position will neither be compromised nor reversed."

    Addressing the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly, which entered its third day here Friday, Sleiman stated that "any solution for the Middle East crisis should be founded on a pre-determined and integrated scheme, the basic elements of which have been mapped out in the resolutions of international legitimacy ..."

    Reiterating the UN's resolution to "international legitimacy," he pushed in his speech for the withdrawal of Israel from Arab occupied territories.

    The situation of Palestinian refugees is "first and foremost a political situation," and the "Palestinian cause is at the heart of the Middle East crisis," Sleiman said, expressing his support for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

    "Until a just and final solution for their tragedy has been reached, we fully support all efforts aiming at reinforcing the UNRWA's (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) programs and capabilities, enabling it to improve the living standards and human conditions of the refugees, in collaboration with the hosting countries," Sleiman said.

    Also asserting Lebanon's commitment in the UN Security Council resolution 1701, which called for a cease-fire of hostilities in 2006, Sleiman called for the reinforcement by the international community "to continue its quest to compel Israel to implement all the provisions of resolution 1701."

Interview with MP Dr. Farid el Khazen in regards of the Lebanese governent  please click read more to read the interview      

by Nada Raad - BEIRUT -- A prominent Lebanese businessman was charged over the weekend with embezzlement, distributing invalid checks and violating Lebanese fiscal laws in a case that local media have estimated could represent a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars to investors. Salah Ezzedine, a financier and business mogul from Lebanon's Shiite Muslim community has been in custody since early September, when he declared bankruptcy and gave himself up to authorities. His associate, Yousef Faour, also has been charged on the same counts. Lebanon's Financial General Prosecutor Judge Fawzi Adham ordered the prosecution of five other people in absentia on the same charges: Ali Habshi, Hiba Tahina, Anis Qanso, Mohammed Bazzi and Ali Qaeek, according to Lebanon's official news agency.

The National News Agency's statement on the charges made reference to the five as "runaways," but Mr. Qanso issued a statement, also published by the agency Saturday, denying that he was on the run or that he was managing Mr. Ezzedine's finances. None of the others accused made public comment.

Mr. Ezzedine remains in detention. It is unclear whether he has hired an attorney, and a representative hasn't been identified.