BEIRUT, 29 January (IRIN) - A two-day visit to Lebanon by a UN legal counsel to discuss a proposed international tribunal for suspects in last year's assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was described as "fruitful" by government officials. UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel arrived in the capital, Beirut, on 26 January. While in Lebanon, he met with a host of high-level officials, including President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Justice Minister Charles Rizk and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh.

"It was a real opportunity, mainly for the justice minister, to present different options regarding the nature of the tribunal," said a ministry source who requested anonymity. Michel's visit came within the rubric of UN Resolution 1644, adopted on 15 December 2005. That resolution was a response to Beirut's request for a "tribunal of international character," the details of which were to be determined after discussions with UN officials.

BEIRUT, 29 January (IRIN) - About 10 years ago, Nadira and Amer Nahhas left the United Stated to settle in Lebanon, not realising that their children would live as foreigners in Nadira's homeland. "I am Lebanese, but my husband is a foreigner, this is why my children are foreigners," said Nadira. According to Article 1 of the Lebanese Domestic Law, only "the child born of a Lebanese father" is deemed Lebanese. While Lebanon acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1997, it placed a reservation on the article that stipulates that "states parties shall grant women equal rights with respect to the nationality of their children".The reservation exempts the government from having to implement the Article.

Since 2004, an administrative measure taken by the General Security body in the interior ministry, permits children born of Lebanese mothers and foreign fathers to obtain renewable residence permits every three years free of charge. Before this, such parents had to pay US $200 for a renewable, one-year residency permit for their children. "In case they [children of foreign fathers] want to work, they have to apply for another kind of residence permit and a work permit, both costly depending on the job classification," said Rola Masri, project manager of the Gender Citizenship and Nationality Programme at the Collective for Research and Training on Development (CRTD).

DUBAI, 19 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - 24 May 2000: The Israeli army retreats from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation, although Israeli troops remain in the disputed Shebaa Farms region in the foothills of Mount Hermon.

27 August 2000: The first of two rounds of Lebanese legislative elections take place.

7 October 2000: The Shi