BEIRUT, Lebanon  (UPI)-- Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora Saturday launched a dialogue with the Palestinian groups in his country to ease rising tension between the two sides.  Siniora met with a delegation representing the Palestine Liberation Organization before holding talks with representatives of various pro-Syrian factions in Lebanon.  The talks came following tension between the two sides after the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command accused the Lebanese authorities of "tightening the grip" around its bases outside the 12 Palestinian refugee camps. 

The Lebanese authorities set up check-points around two PFLP-GC bases - one on the Naameh Hills outside Beirut, and another in the Western Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border - after receiving information the Syrians were smuggling arms to the group's centers.  The Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon in late April after more than 20 years following popular and international pressure. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine representative Marwan Abdul Aal described the talks with Siniora as a "big message of assurances," saying the meeting was "positive and there was a lot of understanding."

   لى ألمانيا الديموقراطية، إلى المانيا العدالة، الى الشعب الألماني الذي مازا يدفع ثمن النازية وسلوكها، سؤال موجه: هل تقبلون أن يتصرف القاضي ميليس بسلوك نازي ضد الشعب اللبناني؟إلى ألمانيا التي قامت بمبادرة انسانية فبادلت الأسرى والرفات بين اسرائيل وحزب الله ترانا نسألها: هل هذا الوجه الانساني والراقي الذي برزت عبره في الشرق الأوسط تستبدلينه بتصرفات ميليس النازية، وتستعملين هذا الاسلوب في وجه الشعب اللبناني؟كيف يمكن للقاضي ميليس أن يكون المحقق النزيه وهو على طاولة السياسيين اصحاب الادعاء السياسي وهم يتهمون الجميع بأنهم قتلوا الحريري؟كيف يمكن للقاضي ميليس ان يتغدى مع المدعين السياسيين ويتعشى معهم ولا يبحث مع المشتبه بهم وراء قضبان السجن، ما التهمة الموجهة اليهم؟كيف يمكن للقاضي ميليس أن يكون طرفاً منحازاً، فيتغدى مع أطراف الصراع السياسي ويسامرهم ويجالسهم، فهل هذه هي مبادئ القضاء الالماني، وهل هذه مبادئ وزارة العدل الالمانية وتوجهات الامم المتحدة؟

 (MENAFN) According to central bank statistics, Lebanon’s public debt grew to $33.8 billion by the end of July from $33.3 billion a …

 By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer Tue Oct 4,11:29 AM ET,  BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's government appointed a new security chief Tuesday, replacing a powerful general implicated in the assassination of the former prime minister as authorities attempt to tackle a deterioration in law and order.  The appointment came after months of political wrangling among factions in the half-Christian, half-Muslim Cabinet. The government has been trying to oust pro-Syrian officials, who are blamed for increasing lawlessness in the capital.The government postponed a decision on a long-awaited plan to overhaul the security services amid continuing discussions on whether to dissolve an intelligence gathering agency or simply name a new commander for it. In the most prominent of several appointments, the Cabinet appointed army Brig. Gen. Wafiq Jizzini to head the Interior Ministry's General Security Department.