Introduction to the evening news 03-03-2012

Minister Nicolas Fattoush criticized the minister of interior for accepting contributors’ donations to prisoners in order to release them, without referring to the government. The interior minister responded that Fattoush must respect laws in the issue of sand quarries before stoning others.     

This was the only debate that shook the cabinet session that went calmly and in a festive mood. Given that it was the 50th session of the cabinet, PM Mikati called for it by inviting ministers to lunch.         

Some decisions taken will spur a hubbub; in fact, the cabinet approved the speculation of apartments damaged by Mansourieh’s high-voltage power lines. This decision may be rejected by the area’s residents, raising the question of its implementation.         

In any case, the cabinet will be on vacation for 17 days, as of today until the 20th of this month, which means that all the “urgent” issues on the table have been postponed.      

Legally, retired General Fayez Karam was released today thanks to the prison term reduction. Karam was arrested in August 2010 and was released today after completing his prison sentence for collaborating with Israel. Dozens of inmates also benefited today from the prison term reduction and were released from Roumieh prison.