Mitchell says no Mideast peace at Lebanon expense (Reuters) (Yahoo!7 World News)
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S. envoy George Mitchell said on Friday a Middle East peace agreement would not come at Lebanon’s expense and praised this week’s election as an “important milestone” for the country.

Lebanese expats who came to vote are boosting tourism sector, says minister (The Daily Star Lebanon)
Tourism Minister Elie Marouni said Thursday the bulk of the Lebanese who arrived in Lebanon in May and the first week of June came to take part in the parliamentary elections which saw March 14 retain the majority in the Parliament. “It’s true that many of the Lebanese who arrived in big numbers came to vote.

Mitchell says no Mideast peace at Lebanon expense (Reuters via Yahoo!Xtra News)
BEIRUT (Reuters) – U.S. envoy George Mitchell said on Friday a Middle East peace agreement would not come at Lebanon's expense and praised this week's election as an “important milestone” for the country.

Still a tough road for Lebanon (Asia News Network)
Contrary to most predictions, the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies did not win the Lebanese parliamentary election last Sunday. The unexpected triumph for the pro-Western March 14 Alliance, led by Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, has provided much relief to many in the West, especially the United States, which lists …

Losers can live with Lebanon’s ‘West’ vote (The Japan Times)
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s voters have handed a clear defeat to the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance. In a smoothly run and peaceful election, the pro-Western March 14 alliance emerged with a clear majority of 71 seats, compared to 58 seats for its rivals. The results elicited a nearly audible sigh of relief from Arab capitals, as well as from leaders in Europe and North America. The fear that the …

Parcel Bomb Defused At Lebanon Security Office – Official (Nasdaq)
BEIRUT (AFP)–Lebanese security forces Friday defused a parcel bomb discovered in the Beirut offices of one of the country’s security agencies, an official said.

Lebanese vote for the status quo (World Headlines)
In Lebanon’s hotly contested elections on June 7, the Lebanese overwhelmingly voted to retain the status quo, ostensibly rubber-stamping the continuation of sectarianism, corruption, cronyism and dynastic rule.

US Envoy In Beirut For Talks With Lebanese Leaders (Nasdaq)
BEIRUT (AFP)–U.S. envoy George Mitchell arrived in Beirut Friday on the latest leg of a tour aimed at reviving the stalled Middle East peace process.

Lebanon’s Triumph, Iran’s Travesty (New York Times)
The elections in Lebanon and Iran matter, but how much they matter depends entirely on how free, open and fair they are.

Democracy Lebanese-style (Al-Ahram Weekly)
Elections in Lebanon are somewhat surreal at the best of times, even without a surprise defeat for most pollsters’ favourites to win — the opposition led by Hizbullah and Christian leader Michel Aoun. Last week was no exception.

Popularity: 1% [?]