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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Early Results Emerge in Lebanon's Parliamentary Vote

2018-05-07

[AnNahar] Preliminary results started emerging around mmidnight Monday after Leb voted in its first parliamentary elections in nine years. Media reports said the Hizbullah ...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory... -AMAL Movement coalition won all seats in south Leb's second and thirds electoral districts. The coalition's campaign meanwhile said its list won four seats in Beirut's second district -- one for Hizbullah, one for AMAL, one for al-Ahbash and one for the Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... According to media reports, the list of Prime Minister Saad Hariri Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too. 's al-Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... Movement won six seats in the district as the businessman Fouad Makhzoumi won a Sunni seat. In Beirut's first district -- Ashrafieh, Saifi, Rmeil and Medawar -- the list backed by the Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... and the Kataeb Party won three seats as three seats went to the list backed by the Free Patriotic Movement and the Tashnag Party Socialist party representing the Armenian diaspora in Leb. They're Christians, but they try to remain neutral, which means they get shot at without shooting back... and two went to the Kollouna Watani civil society coalition -- Joumana Haddad and Paula Yagoubian. Also according to media reports, MP Bahia Hariri retained her seat in Sidon as Popular Nasserite Organization chief Osama Saad won the city's second Sunni seat and his ally Ibrahim Azar won a Maronite seat in Jezzine. The FPM meanwhile won two seats in Jezzine, including that of incumbent MP Ziad Aswad. Elsewhere, FPM chief Jebran Bassil announced that he won a Maronite seat he ran for in Batroun and that the FPM has won a seat in Akkar. The Marada Movement the personal militia of Suleiman Franjieh, president of Lebanon at the outbreak of the civil war, currently Syrian toadies, but you never know when that could change... meanwhile announced that it won four seats in the Batroun-Koura-Bsharri-Zgharta district as three went to the coalition of the Free Patriotic Movement, al-Mustaqbal Movement and Michel Mouawad and three other seats were clinched by the Lebanese Forces-Kataeb Party alliance. In Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... -Minieh-Dinniyeh, the lists of ex-PM Najib Miqati, al-Mustaqbal Movement and ex-minister Faisal Karami were leading the vote count. In Baabda, the Hizbullah-FPM coalition won four seats as the LF and the Progressive Socialist Party managed to win two seats. In northern Metn, the leading candidates at 12:30 am were Sami Gemayel, Ibrahim Kanaan, Eddie Abi al-Lamaa, Michel Murr, Hagop Pakradounian and Elias Bou Saab. Low Turnout in Lebanon's First Parliamentary Vote in 9 Years A Look at the Key Players In the Lebanese Elections

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Popular Nasserite Organization Chief Warns of Sectarian Strife in Sidon

2013-06-20

[An Nahar] Popular Nasserite Organization head Osama Saad stressed on Wednesday that the security deterioration in the southern city of Sidon endangers the civil peace and aims at creating a sectarian civil war. He expressed regret in a presser over the security, stability and economy losses in the city, a day after festivities erupted between Salafist holy man Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and the Hizbullah-affiliated Resistance Brigades in the suburb of Abra. "The attack launched by al-Asir supporters forced people to evacuate their homes," Saad said. The official reject attempts to involve Sidon in "sectarian sedition." Saad slammed "those who intervened to protect people who aim at destabilizing the situation in the city," accusing al-Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... movement and other Islamists of participating in Tuesday's incidents. Clashes erupted on Tuesday afternoon between supporters of Asir, the imam of Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah Mosque, and the Resistance That'd be the Hezbullies, natch... Brigades in the Sidon neighborhood of Abra, leaving at least one person dead and four others maimed. The Lebanese army deployed in Sidon as the violence comes amid soaring sectarian tensions in Leb that have escalated because of the raging war in neighboring Syria. The army said several people were maimed by the gunfire. Asir, who espouses an austere form of Sunni Islam, is known for his opposition to Hizbullah.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

1 Dead, 3 Hurt as Members of Resistance Brigades, Nasserite Organization Clash in Sidon

2013-01-04

[An Nahar] An exchange of gunfire erupted on Thursday evening in Sidon between members of the Popular Nasserite Organization led by ex-MP Osama Saad and the Hizbullah-affiliated Resistance Brigades, leaving one person dead and three others maimed. Future TV said "fierce festivities erupted in the Nazlet Sidon area between a group belonging to the Popular Nasserite Organization and another belonging to 'Hizbullah's brigades'." It added that one person was killed and two others were maimed in the clash. Al-Jadeed television said the army deployed heavily in the area, reporting the same casualty toll. "A clash between Mahmoud Bazaza and Abu Rabih al-Masri erupted in Sidon's Nazlet Sidon area, which resulted in the death of Mohammed Birar, who belongs to the Resistance That'd be the Hezbullies, natch... Brigades," state-run National News Agency reported later. "At once, an army force and members of the Internal Security Forces deployed in the area," NNA said. Meanwhile, ...back at the palazzo, Count Guido had escaped from his bonds and overwhelmed his guard using the bludgeon the faithful Filomena had smuggled to him in the loaf of bread... LBCI television said "a supporter of the Popular Nasserite Organization was maimed in the leg as gunfire erupted in Nazlet Sidon."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Clash Breaks out between Rival Factions in Ain el-Hilweh

2013-01-02

[An Nahar] Clashes erupted in the Paleostinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hellhole on Tuesday between rival factions, reported various media outlets. Voice of Leb radio (100.5) said that a clash broke out at dawn between members of the Resistance That'd be the Hezbullies, natch... Brigades, loyal to Hizbullah, and youths from the Popular Nasserite Organization. The National News Agency reported however that an armed clash broke out between a Paleostinian member of Jund al-Sham and another from the Fatah movement. Two grenades were also tossed in the clash. The security committee at the camp soon intervened and restored calm. Earlier on Tuesday, NNA said that unknown assailants also tossed two hand grenades in Ein el-Hellhole's vegetable market where Paleostinian youths were celebrating the New Year.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Osama Saad's Nasserite Organization Accuses Bahia Hariri of Arming Supporters

2010-11-20

[An Nahar] The Popular Nasserite Organization led by Osama Saad on Friday accused MP Bahia Hariri of arming her supporters with "large quantities of weapons." In a statement issued Friday, Saad said motorists have been repeatedly stopped by Hariri's "gunnies" across Sidon, including Majdalyoun and Kuneissat, where their cars were being searched. The statement said motorists were also being "intimidated and treated roughly." "These militia-style acts came after MP Bahia Hariri distributed large quantities of weapons to its supporters and followers," added the statement.

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Arabia

Yemeni Parliament rejects changes to electoral law

2008-08-19

Yemen's Parliament on Monday rejected a bill of controversial amendments to the election law, underscoring escalating tension between the ruling party and the opposition. President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ruling General People's Congress (GPC), which dominates Parliament, pushed through the vote after the socialist opposition failed to name representatives to an election committee for April 2009 polls. The Parliament instead kept the old committee in place, adding three new members, an AFP correspondent reported. The rejected amendments include banning government officials from using their influence to affect the vote, and confining the registration of electors to their place of birth or residence while ruling out the place of work. "What the Parliament has done today was constitutional. The procrastination of the opposition and its failure to fulfill its promises is against the constitution," GPC parliamentary bloc chief Sultan al-Burkani said. "The opposition parties want us to subjugate laws and the Parliament to their wishes, and even want to postpone elections for another year. This is unacceptable," he charged. The amendments were hammered out during months of talks between major political parties. Like in a stormy session on Sunday, the main opposition Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) stayed away, although two other opposition groups, the Islamist Islah Party and Unionist Popular Nasserite Organization, attended the debate.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Urgent meet held to resolve Ein el-Hellhole clashes

2005-10-26

An urgent two-hour meeting was held at the Hariri residence in Majdalyoun Tuesday to try and find a solution to the deadly skirmish that broke out near the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp Sunday. On hand were MPs Osama Saad, Bahia Hariri, Hizbullah representative Sheikh Hassan Ezzeddine and Amal representative MP Ali Bazzi, in addition to local political, religious, security and commercial personalities. Participants highlighted the importance of lifting any political cover off of the perpetrators of the attacks, and urged the government and the Higher Relief Committee to compensate residents for any losses incurred in the firefight and to create a committee to follow up on the issue. The clashes, which left one man dead and four wounded, broke out Sunday between members of the disbanded Palestinian militia Jund al-Sham Brigades and armed Palestinian men from the neighborhood of Taamir. Speaking on behalf of the participants, Hariri stressed the government must exert its control over Taamir, which is located just outside of the refugee camp. "Making such a request signifies holding a dialogue; this is why a committee of joint parties was created," she said. Hariri indicated that the committee will soon convene and meet with all Palestinian parties that have expressed a willingness to hold discussions. However, she also expressed the participants' opposition to any form of a self-imposed security apparatus in the area. Meanwhile, shop owners in Taamir returned to business Tuesday, as things seemed to be returning to normal. Jund al-Sham official Ghani al-Sohmorani rejected responsibility for what he called "the passing individual clashes," and called for patience. Sohmorani, also known as Abu Ramez, denied allegations that there would be renewed violence if the wounded, currently in the hospital, should die. The imam of Al-Quds Mosque in Sidon, Sheikh Maher Hammoud, said talks are being held with Palestinian Islamic forces to secure the deployment of the army in the area. He added all parties in Sidon are discussing the deployment on the basis that the government only fills the security vacuum and does not exacerbate the problem, considering the concentration of forces from Usbat al-Ansar al-Islamiyya, Jund al-Sham and the Popular Nasserite Organization in the area. Abu Ramez ruled out accusations the government was prodding his group to stir tensions, stressing it was the government's role to arrest any individuals responsible for violence. Explaining the clashes broke out while he was in a meeting with representatives of MPs Saad, Hariri and Usbat al-Ansar, Abu Ramez said he had immediately ordered the attacks to stop and called for the arrest of those involved. However, Sohmorani accused some Taamir residents of collaborating with the army to create a security gap to demonstrate the necessity of disarming the Palestinian camps. He refused to allow the army into the camps, pledging that he will fight "to the death."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Islamic group resents being 'sidelined' in Sidon

2005-09-20

Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya said the Palestinian refugees' right of return is "sacred" and described remarks being made by international parties about projects for their resettlement as "mere fantasy." The assertion was made by a party official in South Lebanon during a meeting organized by the group in Sidon, attended by various Palestinian factions and forces including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. During the meeting, officials discussed several key issues affecting the Palestinian community in Lebanon and reiterated their commitment to achieving the best possible relations with the Lebanese. The party member of the Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya rejected the close relations between MPs Bahia Hariri, the Future Movement and MP Osama Saad and the Popular Nasserite Organization, insisting this new alliance has been "at the expense of the Jamaa." The Islamic group expressed resentment at its political ally MP Bahia Hariri, saying it feels its position as the third force in Sidon has been sidelined and their role in the Palsstinian issue and ongoing preparations to hold a national Lebanese-Palestinian meeting is being neglected. Moreover, the group expressed dissatisfaction at not being invited to attend a meeting of Sidon MPs and active political factions at the Hariri residence at a time it considers itself to be more concerned than others. According to sources, MP Hariri telephoned members of the leadership of the Islamic group and set a date for the meeting to express her position and explain her political coalition. But following recent death threats made against her and subsequent security warnings, the meeting was canceled and rescheduled for Sunday. Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya member Bassam Hammoud said the idea of the national Lebanese-Palestinian meeting was initiated by the Lebanese-Palestinian Follow-Up Committee that was formed during a period of unrest in the camps in July of this year and which played an active role in restoring calm to Mieh Mieh and Ain al-Hilweh camps.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Team Hizbollah's line up for today's Syriafest

2005-03-08

Participants in Hizbullah protest Tuesday, March 08, 2005 Calls to participate in the demonstration on Tuesday in Riad Solh Square intensified on Monday. Demonstrators will include: MP Adnan Araqji; Lebanese forces and parties, Islamic committees, Palestinian factions in northern Lebanon; the Najjada Party; the Independent Nasserite Movement (Murabitoun); Amal's politburo; the Syrian Social Nationalist Party; the Nasserite Gathering [hard to believe but there was actually a split amongst the 12 pro-Nasser people in Lebanon back in 2002]; Jamaa al-Islamiya; the Islamic Charity Projects Association; the Popular Nasserite Organization; [a third Nasser group - fossil wannabees] the national forces and parties in Sidon; Hizbullah's central education enrollment department; Amal's youths and sports bureau; the Baath Party; the Youths Association for Projects; the Federation Youths Organization; the Phalange Party students department [the Phalange is the group that killed a lot of Palestinians during Israel's Lebanon invasion]; the Zawarian Youth Organization- Tashnak; the Islamic Unionist Movement; the Workers League [still some Marxists in town]; the National Youths Federation- the Lebanese Popular Conference; the Lebanese Democratic Party; the Waad Organization; the Gathering for the Right to Return and Opposition to Settlement; the National Gathering of Lebanese University Teachers; the Self-Employed Professionals; the Islamic Gathering for Teachers; the Jabal Amel Ulemas Committee; the League for the Children of Earth [thank you green party], Human Rights and the Lebanese Association for Lebanese-Syrian Fraternity [retired Syrians living off extortion of Lebanese businesses]; former minister Joseph Hashem; the Nabatieh Merchants Association; the Tyre Merchants Association; and the South's fishermen's unions and the Baalbek-Hermel Gathering for Physicians and Pharmacists.

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