Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri called on Sunday for a renewal of ties with Syria to the benefit of both states at the end of a fence-mending visit to his country's former powerbroker. It was Hariri's first trip to Damascus since the 2005 assassination of his father, ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri -- a killing that he and his US-backed allies in Beirut blamed on Syria. Regional commentators, including Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, have hailed the visit as an ice-breaker and... Read Full Story
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri began a landmark visit to his country's former powerbroker Syria on Saturday, on a two-day mission aimed at rebuilding ties between the two Arab neighbours. It was Hariri's first trip to Damascus since taking over as premier last month and since the 2005 assassination of his father, ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri -- a killing that he and his US-backed allies in Beirut blamed on Syria. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad gave Hariri a warm welcome as he... Read Full Story
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri began a landmark visit to his country's former powerbroker Syria on Saturday, on a two-day mission aimed at rebuilding ties between the two Arab neighbours. It was Hariri's first trip to Damascus since taking over as premier last month and since the 2005 assassination of his father, ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri, that he and his US-backed allies in Beirut blamed on Syria. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad gave Hariri a warm welcome as he arrived at the... Read Full Story
Lebanon's prime minister, who has blamed neighboring Syria for the assassination of his father, visited Damascus Saturday for the first time since the 2005 killing — a trip that a close associate said was extremely difficult for him to make. Despite the unresolved issue of his father's slaying in a massive truck bombing in Beirut, Lebanese Premier Saad Hariri's visit potentially opens the way for a new era in the two countries' relations, which have been characterized by upheaval and... Read Full Story
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri will visit Damascus on Saturday for landmark talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hariri's office said. The visit will be the new prime minister's first to Syria and looks set to close the chapter on nearly five years of animosity between Damascus and a broad political alliance led by Hariri. Lebanese political sources expect the two leaders to agree on opening a new page in their personal relationship and on strengthening... Read Full Story
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is to visit long-time foe Syria on Saturday for talks with President Bashar al-Assad on bilateral relations, his office said. There was no immediate word on when he would travel, or for how long he would stay in Syria. After years of tense ties over the murder of his father, ex-premier Rafiq, Hariri told parliament this month he was interested in forging "brotherly ties" with Damascus. The 39-year-old premier has had tense ties with Syria ever since the... Read Full Story
A Syrian court has asked 25 Lebanese figures, including the police chief and top prosecutor, to appear for questioning over the murder of their country's ex-premier, a Lebanese official said on Wednesday. "The foreign ministry last night received from the Syrian embassy in Beirut 25 letters addressed to various (people) sought for questioning in connection with (Rafiq) Hariri's murder," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The request came as Hariri's son and political heir Saad... Read Full Story
Israel spying devices found by UN source : http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=15763 Israeli spying devices that were planted during the 2006 war with Hezbollah have been discovered in southern Lebanon, the UN has said. UN peacekeepers discovered the buried devices when they were blown up by remote control by Israel on Sunday. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused Israel of blatantly violating the UN Security Council resolution that led to the end of... Read Full Story
by Rita Daou DAMASCUS (AFP) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri began a landmark visit to his country's former powerbroker Syria on Saturday, on a two-day mission aimed at rebuilding ties between the two Arab neighbours. It was Hariri's first trip to Damascus since taking over as premier last month and since the 2005 assassination of his father, ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri -- a killing that he and his US-backed allies in Beirut blamed on Syria. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad gave... Read Full Story
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States wants to move beyond dialogue to a more constructive relationship with Syria but will not trade away Lebanon's sovereignty to do so, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday. Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs, said while recent trips to Syria by himself and U.S. special envoy George Mitchell had laid the groundwork, "we believe that there is further potential for a positive, constructive U.S.-Syrian... Read Full Story
