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Lahoud Pulls Out of Arab Summit
 Lebanon's pro-Syria president said Saturday that he will not attend an Arab summit due to political turmoil in his country as investigators searched for clues to a car bomb that rocked a largely Christian neighborhood in Beirut, injuring nine people. President Emile Lahoud did not elaborate on his decision not to participate in Monday's summit in Algeria, but it came as Syria withdraws troops from Lebanon after facing heavy pressure from the United States and fellow Arab countries to end a three decade presence. The attack devastated an eight-story apartment building in the largely Christian New Jdeideh neighborhood shortly after midnight on Saturday and sent panicked residents in their pajamas into the street.Lahoud, a close Syrian ally, made no mention of the attack, saying only in a statement that Lebanon was experiencing "exceptional circumstances" that required "immediate and direct dialogue" between opposition and pro-government groups. He also offered to host immediate talks between Lebanon's various political factions amid negotiations over the formation of a new government. Opposition legislator Fares Soeid dismissed the invite, saying: "It's too late. This subject is closed." Posted by: Fred 2005-03-19 |
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