Lebanese parliament based on sectarian distribution of power

September 10th, 2009 Lebanese PM-designate bows out of forming CabinetBEIRUT — Lebanon's prime minister-designate abandoned efforts Thursday to form a new government, throwing the country into more political uncertainty after the Hezbollah-led parliament minority rejected his proposed Cabinet. Saad Hariri's move — two days after his proposed 30-member Cabinet list was turned down — prolongs the paralysis in the country, with President Michel Suleiman now forced to restart consultations with lawmakers to name a new premier.

August 26th, 2009 Fears of Shiite-Sunni violence breakout in LebanonBEIRUT — No one knows when an international court will issue its first indictments in the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, but Lebanese are already afraid it could spark a wave of violence between its Shiite and Sunni communities. The Netherlands-based tribunal has kept silent on who it might charge in the 2005 slaying of Rafik Hariri.

August 4th, 2009 Lebanese Druse leader allays fears on policy shiftBEIRUT — A key Lebanese politician who bolted out of the Western-backed parliament majority sought Tuesday to allay concerns by some that he could join the rival Hezbollah bloc — a move that could lead to new political turmoil in the country. Druse leader Walid Jumblatt said he would not ally himself with Hezbollah's pro-Syrian camp but would adopt an independent stance.

June 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Facing strong criticism for the power crisis in the capital right during the peak of summer, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Sunday promised the city the situation will improve in a few days and sternly asked the power distribution companies to improve their response time. Now we will get 150 MW from the central power grid as a relief.

June 27th, 2009 Pro-West leader to become Lebanon's prime ministerBEIRUT — Western-backed billionaire Saad Hariri pledged Saturday to work for a national unity government that includes his Hezbollah rivals shortly after he was appointed by the president to become the country's next prime minister. An alliance led by the 39-year-old, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, fended off a serious challenge from the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies in parliamentary elections earlier this month.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Delhi government Wednesday advised people in the capital, who are battling power cuts amid sweltering heat, to use electricity judiciously and avoid "any future shortage which may happen because of uncertainty of the monsoon". Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit held a meeting to review present power situation in Delhi, which was attended by power secretary and tops officials of power distribution companies (Discoms) - the BSES and the New Delhi Power Ltd (NDPL).

June 13th, 2009 Funeral held for lawmaker killed in BaghdadBAGHDAD — Iraq's top leaders in a show of solidarity attended the funeral Saturday of a prominent Sunni lawmaker assassinated outside a mosque, in an attack seen as an attempt to destabilize sectarian relations in the country. The funeral for Harith al-Obeidi, the leader of the largest Sunni bloc in parliament, was held at Baghdad's Convention Center a day after he was gunned down leaving a mosque after delivering a sermon.

June 13th, 2009 Iraq blames al-Qaida for Sunni killingBAGHDAD — The Interior Ministry says al-Qaida in Iraq is to blame for the killing of a prominent Sunni lawmaker in Baghdad. The announcement comes as Iraqi leaders attended a funeral service Saturday in a show of solidarity for Harith al-Obeidi.

June 10th, 2009 Fear of Iran, Obama's words swayed Lebanon voteBEIRUT — Fears of a hard-line Iran helped swing Christian voters from the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and deliver election victory to a pro-Western coalition in Lebanon. President Barack Obama's outreach to Muslims lingered in voters' minds, too.

June 7th, 2009 Hezbollah seeks greater power in Lebanon in voteBEIRUT — Lebanese streamed to their hometowns on the Mediterranean coast and high in the mountains Sunday to vote in a crucial election that could unseat a pro-Western government and install one dominated by Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The race for the 128-member parliament will have repercussions beyond this tiny Arab country's borders.

June 6th, 2009 Hezbollah challenges pro-West camp in Lebanon voteBEIRUT — Lebanese voters face a stark choice Sunday between renewing the mandate of a pro-Western coalition or handing power to a Hezbollah-led alliance that could bring international isolation and new conflict with Israel upon the small, tumultuous country. A win for the Shiite militant group and its allies in the parliamentary vote would set back U.S.

June 2nd, 2009 Shiite-Christian alliance shakes Lebanon politicsBEIRUT — It's an unusual alliance in a country where your religion usually determines your politics: Christians siding with Shiite Muslim militant Hezbollah. But it has shaken up Lebanon's politics, and backers say it represents the future of this long divided nation.

May 7th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The leader of Sydney's radical Middle Eastern street gang - Asesinoz MC - has accused Australians of racism. The 29-year-old, who calls himself Sam "The Assassin", defended the Parramatta-based gang's violent image in its YouTube videos and MySpace site.

April 26th, 2009 Clinton reassures Lebanon on overtures to SyriaBEIRUT — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reassured the Lebanese people Sunday that Washington supports "voices of moderation" and will never make a deal with Syria that undermines the country's interests.

February 2nd, 2009 JAIPUR - The Congress has always upheld the cause of the weaker sections of society and farmers and would continue to empower them, party president Sonia Gandhi said here Tuesday as she thanked people of Rajasthan for voting the party to power. 'When the Congress was in power in the state, we had taken up the cause of farmers and weaker sections of society.