16 October 2006

NLM marks anniversary of Dany Chamoun's death

The National Liberal Movement held a ceremony in Deir al-Kamar on Sunday to mark the 16th anniversary of the assassination of Dany Chamoun, son of the late Lebanese President Camille Chamoun. Officials, friends and partisans carrying candles marched silently to the junior Chamoun's grave in the center of Deir al-Kamar. The march was preceded by a round of speeches remembering Dany Chamoun. Camille Dory Chamoun, head of the National Liberation Movement, called upon the people in charge of Lebanon's displaced file "to take into consideration the humanitarian component of the file, especially since the Chouf is in strong need of its youths." - Maher Zeineddine

Sfeir hails victims of 1990 war with Syria

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said Sunday that victims of the 1990 war with Syria had helped Lebanon to "rise again and bask in freedom, sovereignty and independence." During his Sunday sermon delivered at Bkirki, Sfeir called on all Lebanese to "unite efforts in order to smooth all obstacles that hamper the country's rise, so the victims' sacrifices would not be in vain."

Safadi criticizes lack of process behind appointments

Public Works and Transport Minister Mohammad Safadi, speaking to supporters at a rally at Safadi's Sports and Cultural Center in Tripoli on Sunday, criticized the diplomatic appointments approved by Cabinet last week. "There was no mechanism in the process of choosing names," he said. He said he did not oppose specific appointees but faulted "President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora ... for that lack of organization."

Antonine Order marks disappearance of 2 priests

The Antonine Order held a service on Sunday on the occasion of the passing of 16 years since Fathers Albert Cherfane and Suleiman Abi Khalil went missing, the National News Agency (NNA) reported on Sunday. In a sermon, Father Boulos Tannouri called on Lebanese officials to "discover the truth behind the two priests' disappearance." Cherfane and Abi Khalil have been missing since the Syrian Army re-occupied most of Lebanon beginning on October 13, 1990.