Introduction to the evening news 24-05-2012

After what can be described as a happy Hollywood ending of the Tripoli events, a police “movie” is on the start in Beirut. This as Akkar mourns, and the Southern Suburbs of Beirut  long for the return of their loved ones.  

It is as though an invisible hand tests national peace today, in a country that has become open to random and sporadic disputes, the latest being Wednesday night’s “hero” whom after investigations turned out to be one of the members of the “group of 13”, recently released from Roumieh prison after serving five years for involvement with Al-Qaeda.

Regardless of the frail security and the government’s confusion the Minister of Finance preached the “good news” of raising the VAT from 10 to 12 percent for the 2012 general budget.  

Staying within the context of the ongoing political crisis, the Future bloc and after holding a meeting with March 14th called for the resignation of the current government stating that a neutral emergency government should rule in place.  

And from Lebanon’s political Autumn to Egypt’s spring where Cairo just witnessed its first democratic elections that may lead to the appointment of the country’s first civil president.    

All this as the final day of negotiations between Iran and the 6 major nations held in Baghdad ended amid an atmosphere of optimism but with no clear resolution.

The negotiations pertaining to the nuclear file are said to be re-opened in other sessions on the 18th and 19th of June.

Beginning with the long night in  Beirut.