Introduction to the evening news 04-12-2011

Only in Lebanon do crises erupt within institutions but can only be solved outside of them.          

A decision to fund the STL was taken outside the cabinet, and yesterday, the MEA pilots’ strike was put on its last leg during a meeting held at the General Security head’s office, after the labor minister’s attempt at mediation failed.          

The Zahrani power plant is up and running again after a meeting at the house speaker’s office in Msayleh attended by the Union of the Zahrani Coast Municipalities, several mayors and other regional figures.  It was decided during this meeting that the plant worker’s strike would be suspended. The crisis that began in Zahrani ended in Msayleh, outside of the EDL authority that presented several reports to the judiciary, asking for support from security forces on several occasions since last Friday.            

Waiting to know the fate of the cabinet session expected to convene on Wednesday, regional developments continue to add pressure on the Lebanese scene:        

Aside from the protracted Syrian situation and the surprise repercussions of the Egyptian election results, the Iranian-American relationship has tallied yet another black mark on its record. Tehran announced that it shot down a U.S. reconnaissance drone and that their response to the violation of its airspace would be dealt with outside of its borders.        

In the same context, Iran also announce that if Iranian oil exports are banned the price of oil would jump to $250 a barrel.