Dialog in Qatar and Berri in Pyjamas

Apparently, it's not going well. All I saw yesterday on the news was that Berri was in the Qatari tradiotional outfit, known as "Dishdesheh", I think. But that's not all, he was also wearing slippers. I am thinking he feels more comfortable in Qatar. Hopefully, others will join him, and they all stay there.

We are back to square zero, because even if both factions, the opposition and pro-government have agreed on a president, General Michel Suleiman, they still disagree on the electoral law that will be used in the next parliamentary elections. How will Beirut's district be divided? For those who don't know, it is a simple matter of math, each faction is giving the division that it will win for it more seats at the parliament. I have no idea, how they can actually find a solution for that. I am sure no faction will sacrifice for the other, because after all, it is not Lebanon that it matters for them, it apparently is their own benefits.



Today, an organization named KHALAS organized a gathering along the road of the airport to call for the leaders not to come back in case they don't agree. Talk about improbable things.

Not wanting to sound pessimistic, yet it seems like the day the opposition and the government agree will be when we won't have a Global Warming problem. At least there is hope.

Recap on the past 3 days in Lebanon

The Arab Ministerial Committee's mission was a success. Their mission last wednesday was to calm things down, open the airport again, bring opposition and government closer, adopt the fact that the government retracted the May 5 decisions, and went on with the next step which is dialog.

This time, dialog is going to take place in Doha, Qatar.

No more signs of weapons on the streets, no more clashes, several airplanes landed in Beirut's airport yesterday, and several left our airport today.

In the past 3 to 4 days, some of the government's officials and pro-government political party leaders, such as Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora, Samir Geagea, etc... have toughed up their tones, while many thought that it only meant things were not going to get better even with the Arab Ministerial Committee's upcoming efforts.

But in my opinion, it was only a theatrical broadway show, orchestrated to make those pro-government people appear as they are pissed, because if they do show that they backed down so smoothly, the pro-government followers, and the big players who support this government were going to be extremely pissed.

In my opinion, the government did not lose per se, however it compromised for the sake of this country.

Beirut Freeze

Today, while walking in CityMall Geant in Jdeideh, a huge mall in the eastern Beirut Suburbs, suddenly a big number of people froze for a couple of minutes, not moving at all! I researched the subject and found many video clips on YouTube and that such a thing also happened abroad in other cities in the world such as London, Paris, Edhinburg...

I don't know what that movement is or how such a thing is organized or what the purpose of it is, but it surely is pretty exciting and interesting to look at. I will see if anything is posted soon on youtube.com, I will post a link to it.

This was done in London, on February 16, 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PupR5V9aE2s

Breaking news: Explosion near Chevrolet - Hazmieh

Around 10am this morning, an explosion occurred near Hazmieh, Chevrolet highway. A big fire erupted. At 10:15am it has been put down. The explosion was heard from my work place. The whole building shook, I believe this was the most time the explosion had an impact.

Update 10:35am : At least one casualty, and many wounded. Last news is that the car that was targeted belongs to the security forces.

Update 11:17am : 10 casualties so far (AFP), the person who was targeted was Captain Wissam Eid. News confirm that he is dead and so is his bodyguard, and a by-passer.

Update: 5 casualties, Captain Wissam Eid, and his bodyguard, and 3 civilians. The size of the explosive was 50kg.



Message? I believe it's: "If you think your own security forces will provide security in your country Lebanon, think again!"

Breaking News: Explosion near Karatina Bridge in Beirut

At 4:25pm, Tuesday 15 January 2007, an explosion has been heard close to Beirut. Sources confirm that it is near Karatina Bridge in Beirut, before Forum de Beyrouth.

Updated: Local Medias are saying that there are 3 casualties and 10 injured. A black SUV was targeted, belonging to the US embassy, however a civil car has been severely burnt.

Updated: 4 casualties, and more than 20 wounded.

Breaking news: Explosion in Baabda

Explosion in Baaba (South Metn), near the municipality building, on Wednesday early morning. The explosion possibly caused by a bomb planted in a car, causing fire as well. Although not confirmed, the casualties so far are 4, including Head of Operations in the Lebanese Army Francois El Hajj. Wounded victims have been moved to hospitals in Baabda.

Explosion near Horsh Tabet

At around 5:20pm, an explosion occured in approximity of Horsh Tabet, near Rond Point Al Hayek, no news available yet.

I heard and saw the explosion from my work, it seems it is in a residential area.

Update (6:30pm): 6 casualties and many wounded in this explosion. The explosion was targetting the convoy of Member of Parliament Antoine Ghanem, a member of the Phalange Party. The explosion caused a massive fire. It happened in Northern Matn, in Sin El Fil, near Al Hayeh roundabout.

The explosion and assassination came 3 months after the last one which killed MP Waleed Eido and his son, and a week before the parliament session whose President Nabih Berri called for, in order to discuss the presidential elections.

The long wait has finished

Lebanon's army crushed the last remnants of a militant group in a ferocious gunbattle Sunday that killed 39 of the fighters, ending a bloody three-month siege at a Palestinian refugee camp that was the country's worst internal violence in years. Nearby villages celebrated with fireworks, drumming and dancing after the government declared victory.

[...]

The army said three soldiers were killed in Sunday's fighting and two on Saturday, raising to 158 the number of troops who have died in the conflict — Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war. More than 20 civilians and more than 60 militants have also been killed.

Reactions:

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora called Sunday's final battle the "greatest national victory for Lebanon over the terrorists in Nahr el-Bared."

President Emile Lahoud said the army "has achieved what superpowers could not in confronting terrorism."

Continue reading here.

What are we still doing in Lebanon?

Last Monday (25 June 2007), a car bomb killed 6 Unifil troops. For details please click here and here.
Almost a month after the clashes happened between Fatah Al Islam militants and the Lebanese army, they finally came to an end. All in all 300 militants were killed or wounded.
PM Sanioura accused Syria of sending arms to the Palestinian camps through the Syrian/Lebanese borders.
Huge worries about Lebanon due to the repetitive breach of the 1701 resolution especially with the arming continuing through the borders thus the borders being unsafe, creating more dangerous militants inside Lebanon.

All in all, what are we still doing in Lebanon?

Explosion in Zouk Mosbeh

Explosion in the industrial city of Zouk Mosbeh around 9:50pm on Thursday night. Zouk Mosbeh is in Mount Lebanon, a little to the east suburbs of Beirut. There are no injuries or casualties.

This explosion is the 5th in 3 weeks.

Update: 1 dead and 3 injured.
A big fire has been caused, later extinguished..

Explosion in Sid Al Bouchrieh

A little bit before 8:30 pm tonight, Monday 4th of June, an explosion blasted in Sid El Bouchrieh, East Beirut, wounding 14 persons, but said to be light injuries.
The region is full of residents, and the exact location of the blast was in front of a commercial center. The bomb was said to be near a public bus.
An unconfirmed story about a lonely passenger, who did not pay his fare, left the bus and was followed by the bus driver, until he was caught at a near by checkpoint. This passenger is a suspect and has been caught.

Breaking news: Explosion in Alay

9:14 - Explosion in a commercial Area in Alay - Mount Lebanon. (Source: LBCI)
9:56 - Update, 5 wounded so far. No information on the bomb's size, however they said it was planted beneath a building's stairs.

Alay's explosion came after 3 days of the first explosion this week in Ashrafieh (Beirut), on Sunday night, and 2 days after the second explosion in Verdun also in Beirut on Monday night. Alay is situated in Mount Lebanon, and the majority of its habitants are druze, most of them supporters of Walid Jumblat. Alay in summer gets very busy where it receives a lot of Arab tourists.

Explosions in Ashrafieh and Verdun also happened near commercial areas that attract a lot of Lebanese people and tourists.

Stay tuned.

Breaking news: Explosion in Verdun

While the minister Ghazi Al Aridi was stating the decisions of the exceptional session of the government that took place tonight, an explosion happened in Verdun (Beirut), a commercial and inhabited location. Material losses so far.

Update: 7 wounded, 2 of them are kids. The explosion, said to possibly weight more than 15kg, was planted below a black car, which still remains until now unidentifiable.

Note that this explosion came after yesterday's (Sunday 20 May 2007) explosion in Ashrafieh (Beirut), behind ABC mall, in a parking that killed a 65 year old woman.

Update on North: Clashes and fires are still on going in North Lebanon, in Nahr Al Bared camp, between members of FatH Al Islam and the Lebanese Army, with many palestinian civilians stuck in the middle. It's been almost 2 days. No progress. A cease-fire was decided from 4 pm to 6 pm today (Monday 21st of May) in order for the red cross and palestinian red hilal to enter and bring the casualties and wounded, however members of the FatH al Islam, broke the cease-fire.

News: Clashes between Army and Fath Al-Islam in North

Source: Translated from Tayyar.org

Clashes between the Lebanese Army and members of Fath Al-Islam in north Lebanon, 7 casualties from the army and 4 from the opposition. The clashes started at 3am on Sunday May 20, and was still going till late in the morning. The Lebanese Army has surrounded the camp of Nahr Al Bared, and is shooting at certain points in the camp, after receiving re-inforcements.

The 2 kidnapped youth found dead

Two youths abducted in Beirut four days ago were found dead in Jadra south of the capital Thursday.

Source: Naharnet.com

More on the story here.

2 Lebanese in Virginia Tech Shootings

2 Lebanese were killed in the rampage in Viginia Tech last Monday, by a 23 year old guy called Cho Seung-Hui, who is being described as a youngster who was troubled and always alone, until now with 2 past stalking cases, and having violent writings. 32 dead, including himself after commiting suicide. Those victims have paid the price of having an individual who is deeply troubled and already thought of as suicidal, on the loose. Already taken to a mental facility twice, there was apparently no improvement, on the contrary, he did even worse than it was expected of him.

To read more on this story, please click here.

My condolences to the families of the two Lebanese victims (one of them is a 19 year old girl called Reema Samaha) in particular and of all the victims in general. May their souls rest in peace.

Bomb hits U.S. Embassy convoy in Kabul

By FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan - A car bomb exploded near a three-vehicle U.S. Embassy convoy on a busy road in Kabul on Monday, wounding several people, one seriously, officials said.

The blast, witnessed by an Associated Press reporter, badly damaged the front of one black SUV that was shunted to the other side of the road. First aid was administered to at least two people at the scene.

Click here to read full article.

Two months ago, on January 17 2007, an attack also occured of the US Embassy in Greece.

Breaking News: Explosion in Ain Alak

News: Sources said that a bomb has been placed on the street in Ain Alak (near Bekfaya in Northern Metn) and exploded when 2 buses were near by, both busses have been severely burned, 1 torn apart, and the other heavily damaged (ANB channel news), resulting with 3 casualties and 7 wounded, according to the Lebanese Red Cross. (Naharnet.com)

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said the targeted buses were rented for use in Wednesday’s commemoration ceremony of Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (Naharnet.com)

For pictures, please view Tayyar.com's album 1, album 2.

Breaking News: Arab University (Photo)

الجيش اللبناني يحيط بمبنى الجامعة العربية في بيروت والمنطقة المحيطة بها بعد إشكال طلابي بين أنصار "المستقبل" و "أمل" و "حزب الله"

Translation: The Lebanese army is surrounding the Arab University in Beirut and the near area after a clash occuring between students supporters of "Future", "Amal" and "Hezbollah".

Source: LBC

Edited: Also heard from colleagues who made phone calls to near by residents that there are several injured (5 so far), and gun-fire by the Lebanese Army in order to warn watchers on the roofs of the neighboring building to stay far.

Photo below taken from work, sources said that they are burning cars and tires, and the smoke seen is caused by the fire.

The conflicts keep expanding to more areas, they have now reached the Sports Stadium. Now that the weapons have been confiscated, they are throwing stones on each other.

The road to the International Beirut Airport has been closed, and parties leaders call for the people to calm down and get out of the streets.

The Lebanese University declares that all courses will be stopped until next Monday.
16:01 Reuters: 1 dead and many injured.
16:08 According to NewTV, gun shooting at the Lebanese Army.
16:18 One of the public busses has been set on fire.
16:28 Shooting again between the Lebanese Army and anonymous individuals
16:31 Reuters: The person who died is from the opposition forces and has been shot in the head
16:32 Beirut Fire department is working on putting the fire down, and the conflict moves to the neighborhood of the Arab University
16:41 The President of Lebanese Cabinet is urging both the opposition and pro-government supporters to step out of the streets immediately
16:42 Stores closing in Mar Elias area and the near by streets
16:51 Reuters: 4 dead until now
16:56 The Lebanese Army has things under control in the surrounding area of the university
17:00 Fleeing the students from the campus by cars
17:16 Renewal of fires and clashes near the Arab University

Updated:
Between 6 p.m and 7:30 p.m., things calmed down after the Lebanese Army took control and declared a curfew to start at 8:30 p.m. to end the next day at 6 a.m. Sheik Nasrallah spoke and asked everyone to clear the streets, he also called for the Lebanese Army and persecution to arrest all who possessed weapons, and also expressed his concern that "snipers are back". The SSNP (Syrian Social Nationalist Party) was burned in Tarik al Jadidah.

Moreover, Walid Jumblat holds Syria responsible for what happened today in Lebanon. All the public and private schools and universities will close their doors on Friday and Saturday based on a request by the Minister of Education.

Source: Tayyar.

p.s. This post will keep being updated, keep checking for any news.
Note that people are panicking




Burned car due to the clash earlier this afternoon between students in the Arab University


Reinforcements for the Lebanese Army

Breaking news: Opposition to halt strike

Breaking news: Opposition to halt strike (Source: LBC)

Breaking News

Mother and baby die in destroyed Lebanon bridge plunge

BEIRUT (AFP) - A young Lebanese mother and her one-year-old baby son have been killed when their car plunged off a Bekaa Valley bridge that was badly damaged by Israeli bombardment during the summer war, police said.

[...]

Since the war ended on August 14 at least five people have been killed in similar accidents as drivers tried to negotiate part of the bridge that is still intact, sandwiched between the crater and the Berdawni river.

During the month-long conflict, 70 bridges in Lebanon were either destroyed or damaged in Israeli attacks.

Click here to read more