Lebanon

Israel soldiers storm Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza

Lebanon MapBeirut - Israeli soldiers stormed Thursday a Lebanese ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Lebanese radio reports and organizers said.

According to the reports, the Israeli soldiers boarded the "Brotherhood Ship" and beat up its crew. The reports also said Israeli warships had opened fire on the ship after it entered Palestinian territorial waters.

Organizer Maan Bashour told Deustche Presse-Agentur dpa, that contact was lost with the ship after the Israeli soldiers stormed the vessel off the Gaza coast.

Israel intercepts Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza

Beirut  - An Israeli gunboat late Wednesday intercepted a Lebanese ship carrying medical aid and other supplies bound for Gaza, the organizer of the Lebanese delivery said.

"The Brotherhood Ship was fired on by an Israeli military boat 20 miles (32 kilometres) off the coast of Gaza and they were asked to divert course," Maan Bashour told Deustche Presse-Agentur dpa.

It remains in the water near the coast of Gaza, he said.

Bashour said the aide ship was loaded with 50 tons of medical supplies, food, clothing and toys and left the port city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon early on Tuesday.

Lebanese army and UN forces discover rockets in southern Lebanon

Beirut  - Five rockets were found late Wednesday near Naqoura close to the southern Lebanon border with Israel, a Lebanese army statement said, adding that they were not primed.

12 angry inmates take stage in therapeutic prison drama

12 angry inmates take stage in therapeutic prison dramaRoumieh, Lebanon  - Drama therapy is common in jails in Europe, but the technique was first introduced to inmates in Lebanon by a Lebanese director who volunteered to help prisoners express themselves and communicate with others.

Zeina Dakkash, a Lebanese comic actress and director, introduced what she described as a "pilot project" to Lebanese prisons and took Roumieh central jail, 20 kilometres north-east of Beirut, as her first location this year.

Lebanese English newspaper back on the stands

Lebanese English newspaper back on the standsBeirut - The

Assad sees hope for future, claims Israel not serious about peace

Assad sees hope for future, claims Israel not serious about peace Beirut  - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday that Israel is not serious about achieving peace in the region at this time, but expressed hope for the future.

"It was obvious that Israel only understands the language of force," Assad said, adding that the Jewish state was not serious about the peace negotiations.

In an exclusive interview with Hezbollah-run television al-Manar, Assad said he sees "hope for compromises in the region and not wars" in the future.

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