Sunday,March 18,2007

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said on Sunday that the current "state of chaos" in Lebanon was not only affecting political life but was also having "drastic effects" on "the social and intellectual lives of the Lebanese." "Lebanese from all social classes and religions are complaining about the uncertain situation in Lebanon, because they find that their future as well as all their aspirations and dreams are being threatened," Sfeir said during a mass at Bkirki.

The prelate urged all security departments in Lebanon to "assume their responsibilities" to "allow the Lebanese to be confident about their future and that of their country."

Saturday, March 17, 2007

 The president of the Lebanese University has announced that elections suspended following clashes on various campuses earlier this year will now proceed. "Since the conditions that led to the delaying of the elections have changed, and since all the students insist that elections should be done in a democratic atmosphere, elections will be resumed at the Lebanese University on March 19," Zuhair Shukor said on Thursday.

Student representatives of the political parties are now preparing electoral campaigns, taking into careful consideration that any confrontation on campus could have serious repercussions for the political situation at large.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

The attorney representing Jamil Sayyed, the former head of the Surete Generale in proceedings related to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, sent a letter of appeal to both State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza and investigating magistrate Elias Eid on Thursday demanding the "immediate release" of his client.

"The UN probe committee report into the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri, submitted to the UN Security Council Thursday, makes no reference to my client whatsoever," Akram Azoury said in his letter.

BEIRUT (AFP) - Models in G-strings and lacy bras shivered from the cold as they strutted the catwalk at the foot of snow-covered slopes in Lebanon to promote the conservative Middle East's largest ski resort. The fashion extravaganza aimed to lure visitors to the country's six winter resorts whose fortunes have gone downhill since last year's Israeli offensive, a political and economic crisis -- and even inclement weather.

A sea of cameras focused on lingerie-clad models parading on the terrace of the five-star Mzaar Hotel nestling amid the snowy peaks of the Faraya-Mzaar resort northeast of Beirut.The models may have been young eastern Europeans familiar with cold weather, but the scene was purely Lebanese in all of its contrast.

Many Arab states are famous for their deserts, but the tiny mountain country dubbed the Switzerland of the Middle East sports groomed slopes for skiers and snowboarders, as well as scenic cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.

A Lebanese tourism slogan boasts that in springtime aficionados can ski from sun-washed peaks, enjoying breathtaking views of the Mediterranean in the morning -- and then swim in the sea the same afternoon.Forgetting for a while the problems that plague the country, Lebanon's happy few and a small number of tourists sipped drinks and enjoyed gourmet dining on the Mzaar terrace as they watched the daring lingerie show.