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Last update - 19:36 29/08/2007 Lebanese minister slams Hezbollah telephone network By DPA Tags: Fouad Seniora, Lebanon  Lebanon's Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh on Wednesday slammed the Hezbollah guerilla group for installing a private phone network, branding the move a "state violation." Hamadeh said the Hezbollah network, which started out in south Lebanon and ended up in Beirut and its suburbs, "went beyond logic." He criticized Hezbollah's move as a "commercial, security and military project" related to the group's "state within the state." Advertisement Hamadeh claimed that Hezbollah's "independent network" was an indication that the group intended to cover between two thirds and three quarters of Lebanon. Meanwhile, the government of Prime Minister Fouad Seniora was considering severing private Hezbollah phone network connections. "We agreed to draw a plan of action for a peaceful resolution of this issue, but we are serious about resolving it because it is a dangerous matter," Information Minister Ghazi Aridi told reporters after a lengthy cabinet session on Monday. Aridi said the government formed a committee to draft a report on recent information that Hezbollah had installed its own communication infrastructure in south Lebanon. He said initial reports have shown that the Hezbollah networks "went beyond (the southern village of) Zawtar Sharqiyeh to reach Beirut and the suburbs of Beirut which are outside the security areas of the leadership of the resistance." According to government sources, the report which was prepared by a ministerial committee confirmed that Hezbollah had privately installed phone networks that have reached Dahiyeh, or Beirut's southern suburbs, as well as areas inside the capital's downtown. The sources said the cabinet instructed Lebanese security forces to perform a "specific task" under which "appropriate measures" would be taken to deal with Hezbollah's move. They said the cabinet was considering authorizing a "security and technical team" to sever the phone network connections. Seniora was quoted by a source as responding to Hezbollah's act, which was considered a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, by sarcastically saying: "All we need is (Hezbollah) to ask a musician to compose a new national anthem." Some sources close to Hezbollah said the phone network was set in the south to protect its members from Israeli attacks and assassinations. But Aridi said the government was "determined to protect the resistance (Hezbollah) and the symbols of the resistance from the Israeli enemy but the information that we gathered about the network does not follow this logic." He did not give further details. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.   1.   trouble 19:52  |  democrat 29/08/07   2.   Phonecia 20:23  |  Solon 29/08/07   3.   #1 - why are you involving Israel in the phone dispute ? 20:31  |  redmike 29/08/07   4.   I enjoyed Mr. Siniora`s sarcasm 20:47  |  Mark Lincoln 29/08/07   5.   Phonicia - Solon 21:08  |  Imad 29/08/07   6.   democrat 21:33  |  Lynn 29/08/07   7.   Mark Lincoln 21:35  |  Lynn 29/08/07   8.   Solon of London 21:36  |  Lynn 29/08/07   9.   Prime Minister Fouad Seniora`s forceful comment 21:41  |  Chick 29/08/07   10.   persian empire brought civilization to greece 22:13  |  shia 4 ever 29/08/07   11.   lebanese minister 22:26  |  Jack 29/08/07   12.   RE: redmike 22:42  |  democrat 29/08/07   13.   #6 Lynn 22:48  |  democrat 29/08/07   14.   #10 - Ancient Persians were NOT Muslims 23:41  |  Polybios 29/08/07   15.   Syrian/Iranian proxy the curse of Lebanon 01:04  |  Esther 30/08/07   16.   Answer to #13 01:51  |  Jon 30/08/07   17.   To RedMike & Democrat 02:13  |  Mike 30/08/07   18.   Jon #13 04:15  |  democrat 30/08/07   19.   Lebanese minister slams Hezbollah telephone network 22:46  |  Frank 30/08/07   20.   The Truth on Lebanon is... 10:02  |  PaltinianDruzeMuslim 01/04/08

Today Online Jerusalem council okays 600 new Jewish homes in Arab area Responses: 263 Yishai: Israel must negotiate with Hamas over Shalit release Responses: 151 Editorial: Peace talks, even on Jerusalem, must be secret Responses: 62 MK Swaid: Demolition of Arab homes will lead to an explosion Responses: 70 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Rabbis who don't officiate intermarriage should refer to rabbis who do Poll: What percentage of Jews will vote McCain? 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Can McCain get a boost from the new dovish Jewish lobby? More Headlines 05:38 Russia's UN envoy: Moscow summit would energize peace process 07:31 Hamas: IDF special forces kill two militants in Gaza raid 10:08 Barak heeds Rice call, reverses course to back PA border plan 09:58 Carcinogenic materials found in 2 additional F-16I fighter jets 05:50 Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions 05:56 Vatican looks to assuage Jews' anger over controversial prayer 10:06 U.K. archives shed light on female spy who led anti-Nazi resistance 05:53 PMO to bear financial cost of Israel Radio's Farsi broadcasts 03:57 Coming soon - kosher financial instruments 04:16 Palestinians approve $3.337 billion draft budget for 2008 04:42 Restless Druze employ boycotts, arson to combat cellular antennas 04:52 Court extends remand of Ramle couple suspected of abusing their eight children 05:00 How did the bee cross the road? Via a bee bridge, of course Previous Editions Select Day 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar

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