Elementor landing recent post test – Page 2335

LF, FPM agree to delay decision on presidency

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November 11, 2005

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BEIRUT: The Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) agreed Thursday to postpone any decisions concerning the presidency until the UN investigation into the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri releases new results, expected in the next few weeks.

"We share with [LF leader] Samir Geagea the view that deciding the next step regarding the presidency will have to wait until the UN investigator Detlev Mehlis releases his final report," said Major General Issam Abu Jamra after meeting with Geagea. Abu Jamra was representing FPM leader Michel Aoun during the discussions.

He added that the subject is so complicated "we cannot decide anything off hand or on the spot. We need to consider other related developments in Lebanon and the region."

Metn MP Walid Khoury, representing the Reform and Change Parliamentary bloc, accompanied Abu Jamra at the meeting. Khoury said Aoun does not actually support President Emile Lahoud, but fears that a political vacuum may result if Lahoud resigned immediately.

L.A. woman killed in Jordan bombings

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November 11, 2005

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Uncategorised

Associated Press LOS ANGELES _ An American woman living in Beirut was among dozens killed in the hotel bombings in Jordan and her father, the executive producer of the

State Dept. Dismisses Syria Offer

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November 11, 2005

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By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer, WASHINGTON - Dismissing a qualified offer by Syrian President Bashar Assad to cooperate with a U.N. investigation of the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister, the State Department on Thursday ruled out setting conditions for the probe.

If investigator Detlev Mehlis "wants something he should get it, and he should get it without delay and without complication and without obfuscation," said the department's deputy spokesman, Adam Ereli.Mehlis has accused Syria of refusing to cooperate with his inquiry into the slaying of Rafik Hariri last February in Beirut and concluded it could not have been carried out without the cooperation of senior Syrian officials.

Assad responded Thursday with an offer to cooperate, but warned it would cease if Syria was going to be harmed.The Syrian president also said Mehlis had refused his country's offer to have Syrian officials questioned on Syrian territory, even in U.N. offices there, or at the Arab League's office in Cairo.

Geagea looks for closer relations with Hizbullah

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November 10, 2005

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By Hania Taan, Daily Star staff Thursday, November 03, 2005, BEIRUT: The leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF) said Wednesday he would like to see his Maronite Christian group in a closer relationship with Shiite party Hizbullah. Samir Geagea, head of the LF executive committee, said during the last parliamentary elections that LF had contacts and relations with Hizbullah "and we hope they advance forward."

Geagea made his stand clear during a news conference at the Cedars on Wednesday. Regarding LF's relation with the Hizbullah in the light of the implementation of UN Resolution 1559, Geagea said that at present, "We should focus on Resolution 1595." This resolution called for the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

When asked if he supported Resolution 1559, he asserted that he supported resurrecting the state, reiterating "we cannot demand the implementation of any resolution except 1595." Geagea stressed that LF did not have a problem with anyone despite differing points of view. This is normal in a democratic regime, said Geagea.