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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 color="#9c0b0b" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#9C0B0B;font-weight:bold'>Thursday,
January 27, 2005</span></font></b></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Parliament
approves draft law to phase out military service within 2 years</span></font></b></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=blue31><b><font size=1 color="#000066"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:7.5pt'>By Rita Boustani</span></font></b></span><b><font
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Verdana;color:#000066;font-weight:bold'> <br>
</span></font></b><span class=links1><font size=1 color="#666666"
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>Daily Star staff</span></font></span></p>
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<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>BEIRUT</span></font>: Parliament approved a draft
law Wednesday to phase out the military service gradually, within a maximum
period of two years, during which a six-month service period will be
required. </p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>The approval came after a debate during the first day
of the extraordinary legislative session the day after the proposal was
announced by Deputy Speaker Michel Murr. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>Chaired by Speaker Nabih Berri, the session was
marked by the first appearance of Chouf MP Marwan Hamade at Parliament since
the assassination attempt on Oct. 1. He was greeted with a warm round of
applause. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>Attending the session were Premier Omar Karami,
Deputy Premier Issam Fares, 13 ministers and former Premier Rafik Hariri in
his Beirut MP capacity. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>While the Zghorta MP called for the immediate
cancellation of the military service under the pretext that it has caused
youth immigration, Baalbek-Hermel and former Speaker MP Hussein Husseini protested such complete cancellation and hoped the issue would be reconsidered.
</span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>The cancellation cannot be implemented immediately as
it would reduce the number of army troops by 10,000, which would weaken its
power and hinder its performance, said Murr on Tuesday. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>Karami described the voting as "hasty yet
popular," adding: "We support the cancellation, but hasty and
emotional decisions harm the army's interest." </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>Karami said the cancellation proposal came after
consultations with the army command and hoped the agreement would not be
sabotaged. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>For his part, Berri said army commander General
Michel Suleiman informed him that the army needed 8,000 troops. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>Aley MP Akram Chehayeb said military service has not
achieved national unity, adding: "We should cancel the military service
and define the role of intelligence services and what kind of army we
want." Chehayeb denounced the fact that some members of military
intelligence worked in politics and received salaries in return. He also said
an army capable of defending the country should be experienced and have
sufficient troops. </span></font></p>
<p class=articletext><font size=1 color="#2a2a2a" face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'>Parliament approved the payment of LL240 million in
outstanding dues to the National Social Security Fund for the year 2003-2004,
after the fund's members accused the current government of failing to pay its
debts.</span></font></p>
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</span></font></b><span class=verblack21><b><font size=1 color=black
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