EX-MP LAHOUD VOWS TO RESORT TO JUDICIARY OVER CHARGES
By Mohammed Zaatari

Daily Star
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Lebanon

BEIRUT: Former MP Emile Lahoud threatened he would resort to the
judicial authorities to respond to accusations against him in the
issue of the illegal Internet company in the Barouk region with links
to Israel. He described as an "orchestrated campaign" allegations by
Future Movement MP Ammar Houry. Lahoud said the aim behind filing
a lawsuit was to "show the public who collaborated and is still
collaborating with the Israeli enemy at the expense of the homeland,
the people, the military and the resistance." Houry had questioned over
the weekend Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bas sil’s involvement
in the Barouk issue. Houry alleged that the Internet company was
established with the protection of President Emile Lahoud and ended
up under Bassil’s shelter. In remarks published Monday by the daily
Al-Liwaa, Houry said the political team under Lahoud’s era "benefited
financially from this network; and today Minister Jebran Bassil is
profiting." Houry claimed that the director of the imaginary company
benefiting from the illegal network belongs to the Armenian Tashnag
party, claiming that senior opposition figures are involved in this
case. Jisr stressed that Article 53 of the Constitution "places the
formation of the Cabinet in the hands of both the president and the
premier-designate who have the right of evaluating and deciding."In
reference to the demands of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel
Aoun, Jisr reiterated "every political party has the right to place
demands, but that does not imply their demands have to be accepted
by the president and the premier-designate." – Naharnet

Polish Army chief regrets decision to quit UNIFIL SIDON: Polish Army
Chief of Staff Mihai Wiski said Sunday he regretted his government’s
political decision to withdraw Polish troops from the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon later this year. Polish troops have served
in South Lebanon for more than 13 years and are currently based in
the southern town of Tebnin. Wiski said he was "grateful for the warm
welcome the Polish contingent received from the town’s people."