LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
February 26/09

Bible Reading of the day.
Metthrw 6/1-4/ “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Siniora’s “crimes”/Future News 25/02/09
After Ross' appointment, Iranians need to prepare for a long hard battle-The Daily Star 25/02/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for February 25/09
Maronite Church Warns it Would Excommunicate those who Slander the Patriarch-Naharnet
Muallem Says Syria and Saudi Arabia Working for Lebanon Stability-Naharnet
Solana Says EU Will Deal with Any Winner in Elections-Naharnet
Anjar Road Blocked Protesting Arrest Of Islamists-Naharnet
Four Missiles Found Near Shebaa-Naharnet
Mehlis Has Evidence of Lebanese, Syrian Involvement in Hariri Murder-Naharnet
Bolton: I Have No Doubt of Syrian Involvement in Hariri's Murder-Naharnet
Hamadeh: Syrian Regime Won't Be Found Innocent By Tribunal-Naharnet
Ahmad Al Assaad warns against alliance with Berry and regrets Hezbollah’s ‘Iranization’ of the Shiites/Future News
Paris, Rome Ready to Help Lebanon Organize Elections-Naharnet
Vincent: A Body Has Been Formed to Prevent Pressure on Tribunal-Naharnet
LF: Daher Violated a Judicial Order-Naharnet
Suleiman: One-Day Polls Are Possible if There Is Political Will-Naharnet
Feb. 14 Attackers Charged with Murder, Sabotage-Naharnet
100,000 Pirated CDs and DVDs Destroyed-Naharnet
Second Victim in Feb. 14 Confrontations Dies, Zeineddine's Killer in Judicial Custody-Naharnet
Solana to Visit Beirut-Naharnet
Leading Mustaqbal Movement Figure Found Killed in Bekaa-Naharnet
Syrian arms dealer sentenced to 30 years-Reuters
Hamadeh: Syrian Regime Won't Be Found Innocent By Tribunal -Naharnet
Paris and Rome Ready To Help Lebanon Organize Next Elections -Naharnet
LF: Daher Violated a Judicial Order -Naharnet
Suleiman: One-Day Polls Are Possible if There Is Political Will-Naharnet
Feb. 14 Attackers Charged with Murder, Sabotage-Naharnet
Four Lebanese generals 'to be handed to UN for Rafik Hariri tribunal'-Times Online
Lebanon tribunal starts work on Sunday--registrar-Reuters
SYRIA: A "kangaroo court" infringing on human rights-Los Angeles Times
Lebanon accuses 30 fundamentalists of links to al-Qaida-Xinhua
Diplomats:Syria puts missile facility on hit site-The Associated Press
Syria dismisses IAEA uranium find at bombed site-Reuters
25 years on, Hizbullah's escapades still amaze Goksel-Daily Star - Lebanon
Lebanon renews demand for compensation from Israel for damage ...Daily Star
Berri-Siniora row need not delay budget - Sleiman-Dail;y Star
Lebanese will not be 'kept in the dark' during Hariri tribunal - Vincent-Dail;y Star
Lebanon renews demand for compensation from Israel for damage inflicted during 2006 war-Dail;y Star
Qabbani urges expatriates to vote in elections-Dail;y Star
Hizbullah condemns 'terrorist attack' in Cairo-Dail;y Star
Reconstruction of Nahr al-Bared set to begin - Zaki-Dail;y Star
Second victim dies as result of February 14 attacks-Dail;y Star
101 people who made a difference-Dail;y Star
Hundreds of stray dogs, cats around region get snipped on Spay Day-Dail;y Star

Maronite Church Warns it Would Excommunicate those who Slander the Patriarch
Naharnet/Maronite Bishop of Jbeil Beshara Rai said Wednesday that those who slander Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir will be punished by excommunication.
"The church does not have political inclinations. Its duty is to enlighten peoples' consciences," Rai told a press conference at the Catholic Center for Information in Jal el-Dib, north of Beirut.
"The church law says that whoever insults the patriarch gets punished by excommunication; and those who raise discord against the patriarch and the bishops would get the appropriate punishment including excommunication," he stressed.
The patriarch's only concern, according to Rai, is to preserve the unity of faith and Lebanon's independence.
About attacks by some media outlets and politicians on the patriarch and the Maronite church, Rai said: "The media has principles. It should grant citizens the right to know the truth… They should not slander people."
"It's a pity to see the politicization of religion and declaring war in the name of religion," he said.
"All patriarchs made efforts to have a single and united Lebanon. All they cared about was to protect the Lebanese entity and the unity of the faith. They paid a heavy price for that," Rai said.
The Episcopal commission for communication speaks on behalf of the Catholic church in Lebanon, the Bishop said. He urged media outlets to obtain the required information from the commission.
Rai said every person will be held responsible for any news story that does not cite a source from Catholic media centers.
The Lebanese people should choose those who will represent and serve them best, Rai said about the June 7 parliamentary elections.
"The government's responsibility is to maintain security … We ask officials not to disrupt the elections for personal reasons," he said.
Rai said the country's political scene has been transformed into a battle field and politicians are clashing and fighting rather than competing on political programs.
The bishop said the church and other religions condemn a private Israeli TV show that ridiculed Jesus and Mary.
In the program, Israeli comedian Lior Shlein sarcastically denied Christian traditions — that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus walked on water — saying he was doing so as a "lesson" to Christians who deny the Holocaust. Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 13:35

Four Missiles Found Near Shebaa
Naharnet/The Lebanese Army uncovered Wednesday four old anti-armor rockets, not ready for launching, located near the town of Shebaa in southern Lebanon.
The Army said in a statement "four anti-armor missiles were found this afternoon on the outskirts of Shebaa." The statement said the 10-millimeter rockets "belonged to a past era and is being examined by a military expert." The missiles were found in the town of Marjeh, half a kilometer away from an Israeli surveillance tower overlooking Shebaa. UNIFIL forces joined the army in inspecting the area. On Saturday, two rockets were launched into northern Israel from from a banana plantation near the southern village of al-Henniyeh, in the al-Qlayleh region about 10 kilometers from the border. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Israel's military responded with firing eight artillery shells.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 17:28

Anjar Road Blocked Protesting Arrest Of Islamists
Naharnet/Residents of Majdal Anjar blocked the road connecting the western Bekka with Rachaya with burning tires protesting the arrest of Islamists for their connection to the May 7 2008 events. The Lebanese military intervened at the scene and succeeded in reopening the road following consultations with the locals.
Last May 7, March 8 Forces took to the streets in Beirut and other areas protesting government measures fostering clashes. Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 20:21

Solana Says EU Will Deal with Any Winner in Elections
Naharnet/EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Wednesday that the European Union will maintain ties with any Lebanese party that emerges winner in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Solana arrived Wednesday in Lebanon from Syria as part of a regional tour that will also take him to Jordan, Israel and Sharm el-Sheikh, where he will attend a conference on rebuilding Gaza. "Should the elections officially take place, we shall have dealings with any side that will win," Solana told a press conference following meetings with senior Lebanese officials. He did not elaborate. "All parties in Lebanon will be working constructively in the build up for the elections. I believe this atmosphere will last till after the polls," he added. The elections are scheduled for June 7. Solana's trip to Lebanon and Syria preceded the inauguration Sunday of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon which will be trying suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. Syria has been widely accused of being behind Hariri's death, but Damascus has repeatedly denied involvement. "I am pleased with the meetings I've had," he said, of talks with Syrian and Lebanese officials. Solana said talks with Syrian officials showed that Damascus was "moving toward cooperating with the tribunal." "I hope all sides will cooperate with this special court," he added. Solana said he did not discuss Lebanese-Syrian ties in Damascus because the two are "sovereign states." He voiced hope the two countries can maintain their diplomatic relations and "expedite the opening of embassies" in Beirut and Damascus. Solana said he discussed with Premier Fouad Saniora the economic situation in Lebanon, adding that the level of growth in the country is "good in comparison to other countries." Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 19:23

Muallem Says Syria and Saudi Arabia Working for Lebanon Stability
Naharnet/Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Wednesday both Damascus and Riyadh "are working for security and stability in Lebanon and for scheduled parliamentary elections there to go ahead" on June 7. He spoke a day after a lightening visit to Riyadh where he delivered a message from President Bashar Assad to Saudi King Abdullah. On Wednesday, Muallem told a news conference in Damascus that the question of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was not raised by either party. Both countries believe the tribunal "is an issue for Lebanon and the United Nations," Muallem said after talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
The tribunal was set up to try suspects behind the assassination of Lebanese ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. A diplomat in Riyadh said the message was in response to one from the king delivered to Assad earlier this month by Saudi intelligence chief Prince Meqrin bin Abdul Aziz and calling for improved relations. Muallem and the king also discussed "divergent views on Arab issues, ahead of next month's Arab summit in Doha," the diplomat said. Among these are the Middle East peace, efforts to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and efforts at reconciliation between Hamas and rival Fatah. Ties between Damascus and Riyadh nosedived after the 2005 assassination of Hariri, in a bombing widely blamed on Syria but denied by Damascus.(AFP) Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 16:22

Lebanon Frees 3 Suspects in Hariri Killing
Naharnet/Lebanese authorities on Wednesday released three of seven suspects held over the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the office of public prosecutor Saeed Mirza said. The three are Lebanese brothers Mahmoud and Ahmed Abdel Aal and Syrian Ibrahim Jarjoura, all held on suspicion of withholding information and misleading the probe into the assassination. Their release comes shortly before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, set up to try suspects in the 2005 Beirut bomb blast that killed Hariri and 22 other people, opens its doors in The Hague on Sunday.
However, investigating judge Saqr Saqr rejected demands for the release of two other suspects -- former Lebanese security services director Jamil Sayyed and domestic security chief Ali Hajj, a judicial source said. They are among four Lebanese generals who were pillars of the security apparatus long orchestrated by Syria, the country's then powerbroker which has roundly denied accusations it was behind the Hariri assassination.
The other two are Mustafa Hamdan, who headed the presidential guard, and Raymond Azar, who was commander of army intelligence.
The generals have been detained since August 2005 on suspicion of premeditated murder, attempted premeditated murder and carrying out terrorist acts, but none of the seven was ever indicted for the murder. Saqr released the two Lebanese brothers on bail of about $300 and the Syrian on about $70. The brothers were arrested in October 2005 and the Syrian was arrested in January 2006. No reasons were given for their release.(AFP) Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 13:40

Mehlis Has Evidence of Lebanese, Syrian Involvement in Hariri Murder
Naharnet/Detlev Mehlis, former head of the U.N. commission investigating ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, said that he has a "very clear picture" of the murder, stressing he has evidence of Lebanese and Syrian involvement in the bombing attack. "The picture is quite clear in my mind," Mehlis said in an interview published by pan-Arab daily Al Hayat on Wednesday. "I have a very clear picture" of Hariri's assassination. Hariri was killed along with 22 other people in a massive bombing that ripped through his motorcade in Beirut's seaside Ein Mreisseh district Feb. 14, 2005. Mehlis said he was looking forward to the day when fingers are pointed in the face of those who commit these crimes.
Mehlis assured that the crime was not exclusively committed by Lebanese nationals, but also by non-Lebanese, adding he has evidence that Lebanese and Syrian security service members have "played a role" in Hariri's assassination. He said the investigative team had identified the suspects – the four Lebanese generals, adding that the U.N. commission together with the Lebanese had also pinpointed additional suspects on suspicion of involvement in preparing the murder.
The German investigator said he was looking forward to the day when fingers are pointed in the face of those who commit these crimes.
He ruled out any compromise on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon which will start functioning in The Hague March 1.
Mehlis believed that the main thing that could hurt the tribunal is lengthy trials. On the four Lebanese generals detained since 2005 on charges of involvement in the Hariri murder, Mehlis said: "Legally … they should be handed over to the court." He recalled that the generals had been arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the Hariri assassination. "As far as I know, they remained in prison for a period of three years after I left for this very reason," Mehlis told Al Hayat.
He said he strictly believes that it is the responsibility of the Office of Public Prosecution and the Court to decide the fate of the four generals, who include former presidential guard chief Mustafa Hamdan, the former head of the general security department Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, who was internal security forces chief, and the former head of army intelligence Raymond Azar. Mehlis said Lebanese authorities have the "power to act" to make decisions regarding the detained generals and others arrested in connection with Hariri's killing until the day they are handed over to the court. He said among the two most important conclusions he had reached with his team was that those involved in the murder belonged to an organized group which has extensive resources and capabilities. Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 09:43

Bolton: I Have No Doubt of Syrian Involvement in Hariri's Murder
Naharnet/The former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said he has no doubt that Syria had a hand in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination adding that the issue became international after clear proof of Syrian involvement in the Feb. 2005 bombing. I have "no doubt of Syria's involvement" in Hariri's killing, John Bolton told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Wednesday. "I believe that everyone not just in Washington but also in Europe and all those who understand Middle East affairs believed that Syria was involved," Bolton said. The issue became international because of "clear proof of Syrian involvement."
"I don't think that the investigators have any doubt" regarding Syria's involvement in the assassination, Bolton said.
He said Washington backed an international investigation into the assassination at the time because of "Syrian penetration of security services and the judicial system in Lebanon." "The Lebanese alone are not capable of conducting a full and impartial investigation," Bolton said, adding that for this reason Washington looked for a way to help the Lebanese and the "democratically elected government of Premier (Fouad) Saniora." He said the international tribunal's main message is directed towards Syria and Iran. "We know what they (Syria and Iran) were trying to do in Lebanon. The tribunal is an effort to prevent that from happening because if people understood that Syria was behind Hariri's assassination, this would definitely hamper efforts for their return to Lebanon," Bolton told Asharq al-Awsat. He said Hariri's murder along with other attacks on political and media figures in Lebanon was aimed at destroying Lebanon's independence and sovereignty. Bolton told his interviewer that Washington had backed efforts to expand the probe into Hariri's assassination to include the other killings because it looked like there was a "pattern" in the murders. He stressed that the U.S. won't put pressure on the tribunal which would function independently and the judges will reach their own verdicts. Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 09:26

Hamadeh: Syrian Regime Won't Be Found Innocent By Tribunal
Naharnet/MP Marwan Hamadeh said the Syrian regime would not be cleared by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that is looking into the assassination of Lebanon's ex-premier Rafik Hariri. In an interview with the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai published Wednesday Hamadeh said: "Regardless of the tribunal's judgment, of which I fought for, for which colleagues of mine were assassinated, I will respect its decision, I am fully sure that the tribunal would uncover the truth regardless of the time."
He added that there are no settlements and deals over the tribunal, saying that all rapprochements with Syria by Saudi Arabia, U.S. and France won't affect the tribunal's outcome.
Regarding the Council of the South, Hamadeh said neither current nor a former prime minister has ever barred aid from the south. He referred to other regions in Lebanon that continue to suffer from neglect such as the western Bekaa, the coast and Akkar.
"The only agreement upon which our constitution was built is the Taef accord," Hamadeh said referring to the Doha agreement which he refused to recognize.
Hamadeh said that the issue in Lebanon goes much further than just elections adding that the main difference is that of whether we want a united, independent, free Lebanon or do the Lebanese want a country under tutelage and undemocratic with a Persian flavor.
"The parliamentary elections must decide one choice; either the state extends its authority by absorbing the resistance and unifies the security, military and political decision in the country or we continue with this chaos," Hamadeh said
He rejected the call made by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun for holding the parliamentary elections over two days saying this call only seeks to hinder the election process. "I believe General Aoun is feeling the earthquake that is striking his base over the past two years. Hence, he would waste no time in creating excuses, knowing that his allies are only armed party in the country," he said. Regarding the centrist parliamentary bloc, Hamadeh said this campaign comes from one group that abhors centrists because they know fully well that this group has had enough of Aoun's political line. "We never said that if we win the elections we won't share cabinet with some independents, centrists or even from March 8 Forces. We will do so on the basis of a clear program without veto power," Hamadeh said. Beirut, 24 Feb 09, 21:57

Leading Mustaqbal Movement Figure Found Killed in Bekaa
Naharnet/The bullet-riddled body a leading figure in Saad Hariri's Al Mustaqbal Movement was found on Wednesday in East Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
The state-run National News Agency identified the victim as Rakan Maadarani. It said the body was found with two bullets to the head dumped outside Mustaqbal television's transmission station in Dalhamiyeh, east of the Bekaa Valley city of Zahle. Security forces as well as a forensic doctor arrived swiftly at the scene to investigate, NNA said. Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 09:15

2 Convicted in Absentia Arrive Via Damascus Without Being Arrested
Naharnet/Two Lebanese men convicted in absentia – including the brother of Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan who is in police custody since 2005 on charges of involvement in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri – have reportedly arrived in Beirut via Damascus without being arrested. The daily An Nahar on Wednesday said that Hamdan's brother, Majed, and Walid Zaghloul arrived in a Mercedes-Benz at the Masnaa border crossing on Feb.1.
It said the two men stepped out of the Mercedes and got into a waiting car with tinted windows without being arrested. They were accompanied by two escort vehicles, according to An Nahar, to the Bekaa town of Chtaura where cars were swapped for camouflage cover. Hamdan and Zaghloul are convicted in absentia for possession of arms, buying military equipment and attempts to undermine state authority. An Nahar said one of the two men is wanted by INTERPOL.
The daily said the men's arrival had been arranged in advance between Syrian security services and local Lebanese circles, which facilitated their safe entry.
It quoted witnesses as saying that the motorcade headed to Beirut where Hamdan and Zaghloul got into a hotel amidst heavy security mounted by party members.(Naharnet file photo shows Mustafa Hamdan) Beirut, 25 Feb 09, 08:07

Syrian arms dealer sentenced to 30 years
Tue Feb 24, 2009
By Christine Kearney
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Syrian native whom U.S. prosecutors called one of the world's most prolific arms dealers for decades was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday for conspiring to sell weapons to Colombian rebels.
Monzer al-Kassar, 63, a longtime resident of Spain known as the "Prince of Marbella" for his lifestyle in the glitzy seaside town, was convicted in November of agreeing to sell millions of dollars of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Calling Kassar a "sophisticated person" whose main motivation was to make money, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff said he and his right-hand man, Felipe Moreno Godoy, could not escape the "overwhelming" videotaped evidence of the weapons deal that turned out to be a U.S.-backed sting operation.
They agreed to sell "huge quantities of serious weapons to what they believed was a terrorist organization who would use these weapons, amongst other things, to kill Americans and wreak havoc," the judge said.
Moreno Godoy, a 60-year-old Chilean, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
A federal jury convicted Kassar of masterminding the deal that included 15 surface-to-air missiles, and thousands of assault and sniper rifles and rocket propelled grenade launchers for a profit of $1 million. Prosecutors said he made the deal knowing the FARC would use the weapons against U.S. helicopters and citizens to dissuade American efforts to disrupt the cocaine trade. During the sentencing, Kassar asked for leniency by quoting Jesus Christ, the Koran and an old Arabic poem before saying he was not "against Americans, America or against any other kind of nations."
The prosecution case was based largely on evidence gathered by two undercover operatives who posed as FARC arms buyers and videotaped negotiations in Spain with Kassar and Moreno. Defense lawyers said Kassar was a legitimate arms merchant who, when dealing with U.S. informants, was instead spying on them for Spanish intelligence. During sentencing, Rakoff called Kassar "a man of many faces" who lied to all, before later adding: "It's a tragedy that a person as intelligent has spent so much of his life in activities that were certainly not calculated to advance the human race."
The charges included conspiring to kill American nationals and officers, conspiring to acquire anti-aircraft missiles and providing support to a terrorist organization.
He was arrested at Madrid airport in June 2007 and a year later was extradited after Spain received assurances from U.S. authorities he would face neither the death penalty nor a life sentence without chance of parole. Kassar has been selling weapons since the 1970s to the Palestinian Liberation Front and clients in Nicaragua, Bosnia, Croatia, Iran, Iraq and Somalia, according to the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. In 1995, he was tried and acquitted of supplying arms that were used in the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship of the coast of Egypt. Lisa Klinghoffer, whose wheelchair-bound father died after he was shot and thrown overboard during the hijacking, said after the sentencing, "Justice has finally been served."(Editing by Michelle Nichols and Cynthia Osterman)

Siniora’s “crimes”
Date: February 25th, 2009 Source: Future News
It is unconceivable that Fouad Siniora remains in post as President of the Council of Ministers, as in any society, the various crimes he has committed will certainly put him on trial to face the many accusations among which, daring to challenge the House speaker Nabih Berry.
Moreover, we cannot surpass Siniora’s various violations in different directions, and how can we forget his horrible past as he reached his post and built his glory based on:
• Establishing sectarian ghettos and exploiting its citizens’ blood while living in palaces and claiming he is in need.
• Disregarding the “rights” and would only claim them on the eve of the elections.
• Forming a militia and leading it in various wars and killings against all others for the sake of a “brother country” and displaced the “communists” because they were against sectarianism and fighting Israel without being under the umbrella of the Syrian trusteeship.
• Organizing serial looting operations in different ministries under the pretext of development.
• Fighting his compatriots and besieging the resistance in Iklim al Tiffah and Jebel Safi.
• Burning the streets of Beirut and violating the houses of its peaceful citizens because he wanted to subject the city to the trusteeship of the Syrian intelligence.
• Transforming the South into an arena for Syro-Palestinian disputes and besieging the refugee’s camps in a harsher way than Ariel Sharon, killing a higher number of people higher those killed during Sabra-Chatila massacres.
• Blocking the way in front of the ratification of the International Tribunal forgetting the blood of his friend PM Martyr Rafic Hariri that was spell on the streets of Beirut.
• Using all the constitutional expressions and terminologies to justify the closure of the House and obstructing the dialogue.
• Saying the opposite of what he does particularly when boasting in front of the Lebanese that he is “master of himself” while the facts have proven the contrary.
• Receiving the foreign diplomats particularly the ambassador of the USA and tells them the opposite of his declarations to the media.
• Changing his mind depending on the capitals he is visiting, as what he says in Tehran will change when in Beirut.
All the above is nothing to compare with the audacity of Siniora in visiting his hometown Saida, without asking the permission and the approval of the mayors of Zahrani and the leaders of the social clubs of Nabatieh. There is an Egyptian saying “they did not find a defect in a rose, they complained about its red color” and this applies to whoever is attacking the statesman Fouad Siniora.

Assaad warns against alliance with Berry and regrets Hezbollah’s ‘Iranization’ of the Shiites
Date: February 25th, 2009 Source: Future News
“Shiites must return to their Lebanese roots and Hezbollah must stop Iranizing them,” Ahmad al-Assaad, the head of the Lebanese Option Gathering said.
The cry of outrage by Al-Assaad, a shiite running for June parliamentary elections in the southern area of Marjayoun, is reportedly waging the battle of “returning the Shiites to their Lebanese roots”. The 50-year old head of the “LOG” movement is the son of former House Speaker Kamel el-Assaad and is at political odds with current House Speaker Nabih Berry. “Berry is Syria’s spoiled child and “March 14” should beware of him,” Al-assaad said in a telephone interview with Almustaqbal.org.”Any alliance with him means an alliance with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed party that is trying to Iranize the Shiites of Lebanon.”
The Al-Assaad family has a historic animosity to Berry, who doubles as the head of the Shiite Amal movement which was originally created by Grand Imam Moussa Sadr. He called on Shiites to “cling to their Lebanese identity and reject being subservient to regional axes.” Assaad confirmed that the upcoming parliamentary elections are crucial to consecrate the Lebanese identity and “March 8 represent the Iranian project and will abolish diversity if it wins in the elections and the Shiites must exert their utmost efforts to beat it”.He added “it is impossible to build a state when one of its major constituents is subservient to the despot Iranian regime” noting “their rhetoric contradicts the Shiite rhetoric of diversity and openness”. Al-Assaad regretted the weakness of the state’s authorities in Hezbollah’s security zones and held it responsible for the recent attacks against his movement’s members. “Such attacks will not hinder our resilience and we will not resort to violence because it is against the logic of the state”.