Hezbollah assassinates SLA security official
21 March 2000

An SLA security official was assassinated at his home in the predominantly Shi'ite village of Markabeh in the eastern sector of the security zone. Press reports have indicated that a masked gunman entered his house, apologized to the man's family, then shot him dead with a silencer-equipped handgun. The victim, a Shi'ite, had worked closely with Israeli security.

New poll statistics on corruption
29 March 2000

Today's edition of the Daily Star (Beirut) reported the results of a survey, released by the non-governmental organization Kulluna Massoul (We are all Responsible), indicating that 25% of the Lebanese population think that "all Lebanese politicians are corrupt," 38% believe that "non-governmental organizations are merely fronts for people in power," and 74% feel that "bribery is necessary to secure a contract from any public institution."

Photographers protest abuses by security forces

Photographers protest assaults by security forces
29 March 2000

A group of around 50 newspaper photographers held a demonstration outside parliament today to protest recent attacks by security forces against them. "We are protesting the latest aggressions on photographers by the Internal Security Forces," said Ramzi Haidar, an AFP photographer who claimed to have been assaulted several times. "We're here because we have been physically abused," the photographers repeatedly shouted at government officials entering the building.

Fatah officials acquitted of murder charges
29 March 2000

Two senior officials of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement were acquitted of murder charges by a military court today. Brigadier Taha Mohammed Abdel-Qader and Nimr Farhoud had been on trial for allegedly masterminding a series of bombings that killed members of rival Palestinian groups in Ain al-Hilweh. The prosecution's case fell apart after its primary witness testified that he had implicated the two men only after being tortured by Lebanese security forces.

Suspected Islamist insurgent deported from Syria
30 March 2000

Beirut's Daily Star reported today that a man suspected of involvement in the failed Islamist uprising in Dinnieh in January was arrested in Syria and deported to Lebanon earlier this month. Said Minyawi was handed over to Lebanese authorities and questioned by Investigating Magistrate Hatem Madi. Minyawi is the 33rd suspect held in connection with the uprising, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Lebanese servicemen, 3 civilians, and 20 Islamist militants.

Zeaiter: Syrian troops may deploy in south Lebanon after Israeli pullout
3 April 2000

Al-Nahar quoted Lebanese Defense Minister Ghazi Zeaiter today as saying that the Lahoud regime may invite Syrian troops to deploy in south Lebanon after the withdrawal of Israeli forces in July. "One of the options we have, in order to make Israel the victim of its own arbitrary policies, is to ask the Syrian Army to deploy alongside Lebanese Forces in regions we would take over after any Israeli withdrawal," said Zeaiter, a staunch ally of Damascus. "The purpose of such a request would not be to make Syria protect Israel's northern borders, but to put Tel Aviv within range of Syrian rockets," he added. The deputy speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Elie Ferzli, made a similar declaration at a news conference in Chtaura. The Lebanese government "has the right to ask this army to deploy alongside Lebanese troops in the south after an Israeli withdrawal," said Ferzli.

Hoss: Syrian, Lebanese economies should Be "merged"
4 April 2000

According to today's issue of Al-Nahar, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss said that the Lebanese and Syrian economies should be "merged" in order to reinforce the unified stance of the two countries in the peace process. Hoss made the statement in Damascus after meeting with Bashar Assad, the son and heir apparent of Syrian President Hafez Assad, and Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miru.

272,000 Lebanese emigrated in 1999
7 April 2000

Al-Safir reported today that over 272,000 Lebanese emigrated in 1999, an increase of 70% over 1998. 32% of those who emigrated have university degrees. The number of Lebanese that have moved abroad during the period from 1995-1999 is equal to that of the entire 15-year civil war. The report also cited an opinion poll which indicates that 62% of Lebanese youth aged 15-29 want to emigrate.

Police issue arrest warrant for fundamentalist leader
7 April 2000

An arrest warrant was issued today for Daai al-Islam Shahhal, head of the Tripoli-based Al-Hidaya wa al-Ihsan Association, on charges of collaborating with Sunni Islamist militants who clashed with government forces in January. Al-Hidaya wa al-Ihsan owned a radio station in Asoun, Dinnieh, that was briefly occupied by the rebels during the fighting. The association was banned last year when Shahhal's son was convicted of plotting to assassinated Tripoli Mufti Taha Sabonji and Sheikh Taha Naji in 1997.

Terrorist ring linked to bin Laden uncovered
11 April 2000

Beirut's Daily Star reported today that Lebanese security forces have uncovered a 10-member terrorist network in Lebanon believed to be directly linked to exiled Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden. The head of the group, an Egyptian named Jamal Tantawi, is a close associate of bin Laden, whom he met while fighting against Soviet forces in Afghanistan during the 1980's. "Preliminary questioning of the suspects has been concluded and a military prosecutor has formally charged them with plotting to form underground religious extremist cells aimed at destabilizing the country through terrorist acts," said a judicial source cited in the report.

48% of Lebanese families live in "ultra poverty"
12 April 2000

General Labor Confederation President Elias Abu Rizk said today that a study carried out by the International Labor Organization indicates that 48% of families in Lebanon live in "ultra poverty" (defined as less than LL888,725 per month for a family of five) and over two-thirds have "below average" living conditions (under LL1,658,000 for a five-member family). Abu Rizk urged the government to make a "serious and radical change in its economic policies." The current regime, he said, "is treading water and ignoring the crisis, or looking on as it gets worse."