The Zgharta Association in Sydney was the host of two events on Tuesday, 27th November 2007, where, Mrs Laure Sleiman Saab, the Editor of the National News Agency of the Lebanese Ministry of Information, attended.

While in Australia, Mrs Saab gave a press conference for the Australian- Arabic media, at the Zgharta House, when she spoke about her trip to Australia and the life of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy. Present were Sarkis Maksisi, President of the Zgharta Association; Alia Halabi, President of the Zgharta Ladies Committee; and journalists, Antoine Kazzi (El-Telegraph); Sarkis Karam (An-Nahar); Joe Khoury (Al-Mustaqbal) and Claude Harb (Arabic Radio). She said that she was honoured to be asked to attend the launched of Dr.Jamil and Rouba Douaihy’s, book on Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, "Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, from the Heights of Ehden to the Heights of Sanctity,” which was held on 25th November 2007. She went onto say that the book had inspired her to undertake more research about his achievements and struggle. During the conference she underlined the key stages of Patriarch Douaihy’s sacred, eventful and distinguished life and of his great endeavours to teach his compatriots and to record the history of his country and of the Maronite confession. Mrs Saab praised the work of the Zgharta Association, led by President Sarkis Maksisi, Mr Antoine Harbie and its members.

In recognition of Mrs Saab’s services to the Lebanese and Zgharta community, the Zgharta Association hosted in the evening a dinner for her at the Parramatta restaurant, Tony Family Restaurant. Present at the dinner were: President Maksisi and his wife, Evon; Alia Halabi; Mr Michel Saab; Rimon Mouawad; George Douaihy and his wife Nohad; Rimon Mokdassi and his wife Salma.

The President presented Mrs Saab with a commemorative plaque, displaying the portrait of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, in appreciation and thanks from the Zgharta community for her assistance in the compilation of the CD on the life of the Patriarch Estephan Douaihy and for attending the book launch. She was also presented with a copy of Dr. Dr Joseph Azizi ‘s book, “The Phoenician Solar Theology.”

Mrs Saab replied thanking the Zgharta Association for its work and its hospitality, expressing the hope that Patriarch Douaihy would be canonised soon.

Photographs of both occasions can be seen in the Galleria

Since the 19th Century Zgharta Zawiens have travelled to different shores to begin a new life for economic and social reasons. In the second half of the 20th Century, Australia, became a major destination for both young and old, hearing of the good life and opportunities available there. In the 1970's some went thinking they would return once the Civil War ended but found once it had, that they and their children had established roots in their adopted country which they did not wish to undo.

The community began establishing its own churches and institutions, while assimilating with the wider Australian community through schooling, work and marriage, even taking on the Australian accent. However, Lebanon and in particular Zgharta Zawie, still remained a poignant pull on first, second, third generation loyalties and emotions. All generations still wished to keep their bonds with their families and to know what was going on in the country of their forebears. They also had the desire to be participants in Lebanon's future and to take part in the political process, although distance by continents and oceans.

With this in mind the political party, El Marada, whose heart is in Zgharta, has established branches across the world, such as in Australia, Canada and USA. In Australia the party has a particular strong and active support base and they have this month become the first overseas community to launched its own website, El Marada, Australia.

The head of El Marada Abroad and Al Anwar journalist, Mr. Robert Frangieh, says that, "The new site will play a key role in maintaining links between El Marada in Lebanon and El Marada in Sydney and Melbourne and all over the world." It will report in English the news of the party both in Lebanon and Australia.

The site editor is Sarkis Chahine Karam, who was born in Zgharta, 1959, to Hanna and Zakia (née Tabbiche) Karam. In 1977, he with his parents, brother and sisters emigrated to Australia. He is married to Sabet Tannous (née Abshy) and they live Sydney, New South Wales. They have four children and are now proud grandparents of their first grandchild. Sarkis is a journalist specialising in Arabic issues as well as a translator for Australian newspapers and the media; he is also a Media Link reporter for the Australian Government. Our readers will recall that his book ,Youssef Bey Karam,"The Rebellious Prince", was published in English last year.

The webmaster and site designer is, Raymond Frangieh (Al Shamroukh), who was born in Sydney, 1982, to Tony and Nazha Boutros (née Takla) Frangieh. He works as a senior infrastructure support engineer with a Sydney company and has his own web design company, Ray's Computer Systems.

The Lebanese website, Now Lebanon, has set out five essential pointers which employment experts suggest are ways of getting a job in Lebanon or the Middle East. They appear on the Full Story page.

Our own Forum contains in Networking Plus job related topics such as CV's, interview techniques, job websites, etc.

In a related article, Now Lebanon, says that," finding that much-desired job might very well mean leaving Lebanon for years to work abroad", quoting the managing director of a leading regional headhunting firm, “Actually, it’s a rule........The Lebanese have outgrown Lebanon anyways.” He goes onto say that the Lebanses job seeker should, “consider himself (herself) a global citizen who looks at the global labor market and not just the local one.” The article ends by saying that, "At the end of the day, if the Lebanese pay scale stays at 35-40% of Dubai’s, there will be little reason for Lebanon’s best and brightest to stay at home."

Such views are fine as they go but they are targeted to graduates in the main and not necessarily to those who by circumstance either do not have paper qualifications or the choice to leave. We support the idea of a Business & Technology Park in Zgharta.


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The Lebanese slow food organisation, Souk el Tayeb, begins today, Thursday 6th November 2007, a new market in Mina Tripoli called ,Souk el Ard, meaning the market of the earth. It will held every Thursday at the Sheikh Effan Garden between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. some ten kilometres from Zgharta. The market will sell fresh and oragnic fruits and vegetables, traditonal and homemade food.

On Friday sees the opening of the, National Food Festival, a showcase celebrating Lebanese culture, being held at the BIEL from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th December 2007.

From the list of exhibitors it appears that no one is from Zgharta Zawie, although other areas, food producers and artisanas are represented. The Festival's layout has special sections for artisanal regional foods, food courts, heritage, arts & crafts. A lost opportunity to promote the cuisine and crafts of Zgharta Zawie.

Under the headline, "National Food Festival to breathe life into Lebanon," the magazine and website, Hospitality News, says of the Festival, "The first edition of Lebanon’s National Food Festival takes off on Dec. 7 and continues until Dec. 9. Aimed at reviving cultural Lebanese traditions including local cuisine, music, art and theater, the event is a joint initiative of Lebanon’s Hospitality Service s.a.r.l. and ACRI/VOCA and SRI international, as part of the USAid-financed Expanding Economic Opportunities in Lebanon Project. The Ministry of Tourism and the Municipality of Beirut are also extending their support to the initiative.

The three-day festival, which will be held at the BIEL leisure center in Beirut Central District, is expected to generate great buzz and significant economic benefits to the local food and tourism sectors due to the variety of events on show. It will feature food heritage activities such traditional Lebanese dishes show cooking and demonstrations as well as creative competitions, like crafts, best dishes, biggest cheese pie, and many more. The National Food Festival will celebrate Lebanon’s traditional music heritage through live acts as well as pay tribute to national cinema by screening all-time classics."

Details of the festival appear on the Festival's own website www.nationalfoodfestival.com Notwithstanding our absence it seems worth visiting.

Today, 22nd November 2007, marks Lebanon's Independence Day and the anniversary of the death of President René Mouawad (1925-1989).

Independence Day has been celebrated since 1943, when the Lebanese president, prime minister, and other cabinet members were released from detention on the 22 November 1943. The late President was assassinated on 22nd November 1989, seventeen days after he was elected President of Lebanon. Those killed with the President were:

George Khouand
Assad Anwar Mouawad
René Kadou Mouawad
Yacoub Sakkal Mouawad
Yousef Antoun Mouawad
Sayed Elias Moura
Joseph Ramia

Independence Day, for Zgharta Zawie, is one of mix emotions, pride for the nation but tempered with sadness and lost for one of its loved and respected sons.

Today in 2007, peoples minds and hopes are directed towards the office of the Presidency of Lebanon and who will take office as the elected 12th President since Independence.

The photograph shows President Mouawad taking the Presidential Oath, upon being elected President of the Lebanese Republic, on 5th November 1989.

Election day, Tuesday, 6th November 2007, in the City of Waterbury, Connecticut, saw Michael J. Jarjura, elected for the fourth time as Mayor of the City. He received 49% of the vote with his nearest rival only receiving 26%. He was first elected in November 2001, and re-elected in November 2003 and 2005.

The Mayor is the son of Zgharta born Joseph P Jarjura, who immigrated to the USA and foundered J.P. Jarjura & Sons Co, a wholesale fruit and vegetable distributor.

Prior to serving as Mayor, he was elected in November 1992 to represent Waterbury's 74th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives. During his time in the House, as an Representative he served as House Chairman of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. He also served on the Judiciary and Finance Committee and is the past Chairman of the Program Review and Investigations Committee. During his tenure, he also served as Chairman and member of various Legislative Task Forces and Commissions. He served ten years in the State Legislature before being elected Mayor.

In 2005 the Mayor warmly welcomed, Zgharta author, Karim El Koussa, when he was on his American book tour for his novel, Pythagoras: The Mathemagican. He presented Karim with an official citation on behalf of the City in recognition of his novel. In 2004 the Mayor wrote to our Mayor of Zgharta Ehden expressing the wish to "twin" the two towns.

The Lebanese, Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, has put online the current Citizen's Charter, published in March 2007. The Charter is in six parts - Education, Environment, Heritage, Public Funds, Public Health, Public Safety. To an extent it is a wish list; a statement of intentions. However it does useful contain information about existing laws and regulations, which some may find useful as a reference point. The sections list the names of those who contributed to the section, including many leading Lebanese academics. The section's teams were appointed by the the former Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Fouad El Saad (2000-2003) which continued to work under his successor, Minister Karim Pakradoni (2003 - 2004).

The Charter is in three language versions, Arabic, English and French and was produced with the assistance of the United Nation Development Programme. The Charter builds on the Citizens' Charter, approved by the then Lebanese Government on 15th November 2001. The current Charter can be downloaded from the website of the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform from this link

The part on Public Funds has a section on Municipal Council taxes and the rights of the local citizen - Section 3 - pages 27 to 30.

The part on the Environment has a section on Municipal Councils and the need for them to have a Master Plan concerning geographical expansion within its locality and the preservation of environmental landmarks - Section 1 page 16.

The part on Heritage has extensive appendices containing lists of international & local organisations, their websites and literature.

It is the case that when we report the news of the Zgharta Association (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan) Australia we also mention its current president, Sarkis Maksisi, taking a lead in its proceedings and activities. They have become almost synonymous. So we thought we should know more of the man.

To read about Sarkis go to the Full Story page.
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It seems that Dr. Tony Joseph, one of Australia's most respected emergency medicine specialists and the co-director of trauma at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, has inherited his Kfarsghab's great - grandmother, Fehme "Minnie" Ghorlab's, determination and spirit.

In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, today, 27th October 2007, featuring his campaign for better standards in public hospitals, Dr. Joseph, mentions his forebears. He talks in particular about his great-grandmother, describing her as one of the most adventurous women ever born in the village of Kfarsghab, which is opposite Ehden. Having been told of cheap passage on a boat to Australia in the 1890's, a time of famine and poverty, she sailed alone, leaving her husband and several children behind, docking at Adelaide. She then went to Sydney and there she started hawking goods - toothbrushes, sheets and soap- walking to the the City of Orange, 260 kilometres west of Sydney and the settlements of Rylstone and Kandos. On route she stayed at convents.

In 1915 she returned to Lebanon for some years having some more children and then return to Australia in 1924, with Dr. Joseph's grandfather and grandmother, without husband. On arrival the immigration officials changed the family surname to Joseph as the original Arabic was said to be too hard to pronounce. They settled in Lithgow and his grandfather was the first in the town to own a car. She returned to Lebanon in 1954 and died two years later in Kfarsghab.

To read the complete article from this link

On Tuesday, 16th October 2007, the Lebanese Parliament was convened to specifically elect its principal officers of Parliament. Zgharta Zawie Member of Parliament, Jawad Boulos, was reconfirmed unanimously as one of two Parliamentary Secretaries.

The principal officers of Parliament, who are elected by its members, are the, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, two Secretaries and three Commissioners.The officers form a Parliamentary Bureau Board who write and publish the agenda of every meeting for the Members of Parliament, directs meetings and voting, declares voting results, prepares the annual budget of the Parliament, controls its execution, approves staff appointments, and studies petitions and complaints.

Mr. Jawad Boulos is also a member of the Budget & Finance Committee; Economy, Trade, Industry and Planning Committee.

He was born in Zgharta,1966 to Simon and Elizabeth (née Hanna) and he has two sisters Maria and Alissar. He studied at the College des Fréres at Kfaryachite then going onto the American University of Beirut (1984-1990) obtaining two degrees, Bachelor of Science - Biology and Bachelor of Arts-Business. He then attended in 1991 Saint Joseph University, Beirut when he obtained a Bachelor of Law. This was followed by studies in France at the Sorbonne, Paris where he received a Bachelor of International Law and at the graduate business school INSEAD, Fontainebleau, where he obtained a MBA. In 1992 he married Randa Iskandar Ghebril in 1992 and they have three children, Simon ,Elizabeth and Farid.

His family has been involved in Zgharta Zawie political and public life for many years. His father, Simon Boulos, was an influential, though discreet figure, in both regional and national politics during his lifetime, who died in 1992. Jawad is the great-nephew of former Minister and Member of Parliament Jawad Boulos (1899 - 1982) who he is named after. His great uncle was Member of Parliament for the years 1937 to 1939 and was appointed respectively Minister of Foreign Affairs, of Health and of Public Works during the presidency of President Ayoub Tabet in 1943.

It has also been reported that he has travelled to the USA with Mrs. Nayla René Moawad, Minister of Social Affairs and Member of Parliament for Zgharta Zawie. The Minister is in the USA to give the keynote speech at the René Moawad Foundation's Houston and Washington Benefit Galas.

Zgharta Zawie's third Member of Parliament is Mr. Samir Frangieh. He is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Committee; Media, Post and Telecommunications Committee.

There are 128 Members of Parliament who represent 14 electoral districts and whose term of office is four years, unless extended by Parliament. The constituency of Zgharta Zawie, who return three Members of Parliament, voted in the 2005 General Election on Sunday 19th June 2005, meaning that, as the law stands now, the next General election will be in the summer of 2009.

The website www.nowlebanon.com has published an article by Hanin Ghaddar, today, 14th September 2007, on the question of water resources in Lebanon and the problems face by the country, and therefore Zgharta Zawie. The article can be read on the Full Story page.

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The news agency, Reuters, have published an article today on the recent findings of Zgharta born, Dr. Pierre Zalloua, concerning the DNA of Phoenicians and its present day traces in Lebanon today. The article can be read on the Full Story page.

Dr Zalloua was born in 1965, Zgharta and is married to Aline Naufal . They have a daughter, Yasha Maria. He is Assistant Professor of the American University of Beirut and is a well know writer and speaker at conferences throughout the world. He is particularly known as an expert on the question of the genetic makeup of the Lebanese and populations from the Mediterranean basin where they established colonies. In Februay 2005 he gave a talk at the “Difaf” Culture Centre, Al Mirdashia, Zgharta, "Are we Phoenicians".


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On 17th September 2007, Zgharta born, Brother William Michel Makary, a novitiate in the Franciscan Order will take his next vows called, Temporary Vows, the stage before taking Final Vows, at Saint Catherine's Church, Bethlehem.

He was born in Zgharta 1983 and took his novitiate in 2003.

The photograph shows, Saint Catherine's Church, Bethlehem. The Church was built by the Franciscan Order in 1881 on the site of an earlier church. The Order perform their liturgies at the Church. The Order's presence in the Holy Land dates back to the 13th Century and their role in preserving the holy sites and relics was formally recognized in 1342 by Pope Clement VI who granted the Order the Custody of the Holy Land.

We reproduce on the Full Story page the stages to become a friar of the Order (its official name being the Order of Friars Minor) taken from the website of the Order.
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On Sunday 1st July 2007 a special Mass was held at Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Sydney to commemorate and honour those members of the Lebanese army, security forces and Red Cross who have died in the recent troubles in Tripoli. The service was organised by the Association of Zgharta (Youssef Bey Karam Batal Lebnan) Australia.

To read the whole article go to the Full Story page.
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The date, 13th June 1978, is forever remembered in Ehden as the day when thirty-one Ehden citizens were murdered.

Twenty-nine years ago, during the night, the son of President Sleiman Kabalan Frangieh, Tony Sleiman Frangieh, his wife, Véra [née el Kordahi] and three-year-old daughter, Jihane, together with twenty eight men and women were murdered.

The night of infamy is still remembered by both young and old and will be forever be part of Ehden's and Lebanon's history.

There will be a private family requiem mass today,at 6 p.m. Saint Antoine's Church, Ehden, led by surviving son, former Minister Sleiman Tony Frangieh.

The names of the twenty-eight who died are listed on the Full Story page.


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As throughout Lebanon, hearts and minds are in Tripoli this weekend. Zgharta is safe from the troubles, although at night the sound of fighting in the Nahr al Bared camp site can be heard by those living in Mejdlaya and the Al Akbeh section of Zgharta.

Some Zghartawiens are spending the weekend in Ehden.

In recent days there has been an ground swell of support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. This has been shown online by simple tokens of support, such as changing the display picture in MSN to the badge of the Lebanese Armed Forces or adding a rose to one's nickname as a sign of remembrance for those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Estimates of the number of serving men in the Lebanese Armed Forces, consisting of the Army, Navy and Air Force, vary between 64,000 and 71,000. The Commander of the Armed Forces is General Michel Sulaiman,was born 1948 in Amchit, Jbeil. On his appointment as Commander on 21 December 1998 he was promoted to full General. He is married with three children. The Chief of Staff is Major General Shawki Al Masri who was appointed on 5 October 2005. He was born 1952 in Mrayjat. Zhale. He is married with three children.

The organizational structure of the LAF Command consists of: The Commander, Chief of Staff, four Deputy Chiefs of Staff and various Directorates. The headquarters are at Yarzeh, which is just east of the Capital, Beirut. The Ground Forces consists of 5 Regional Commands, including North Lebanon, 11 Mechanised Brigades, the Republican Guard Brigade, 1 Commando Regiment, 5 Special Forces Regiments, 1 Airborne Regiment, 1 Navy Commando Regiment and 2 Artillery Regiments.There are also Combat Service Support Units.

There has been a long time tradition for the sons of Zgharta Zawie to serve in the Lebanese Armed Forces, some reaching high rank for serving their country.

The photograph is the badge for the North Lebanon Regional Command.

The Lebanese English language newspaer,The Daily Star, reports today on the current state of the property market in Lebanon.

It reports that although the top end of the market with its normal Gulf clientele is depressed, the mid level marketplace for flats between $70,000-$200,000 is buoyant, powered by Lebanese expatriates. It quotes real estate agents saying against the odds it is a sellers market. The article goes onto to say that, " Would-be purchasers hoping to buy low in the unstable atmosphere will be disappointed."

The article is reproduced on the Full Story page.
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The worldwide debate on climate change comes nearer to home with the release of a case study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on heritage sites -natural and cultural - such as the Ouadi Qadisha and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab).

Today, 11th April 2007, UNESCO, published a report on climate change "Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage", as it affects twenty-six World Heritage sites including the Tower of London, Kilimanjaro National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Forest of the Cedars of God and the Ouadi Qadisha were made World Heritage sites in 1998. Our own Horsh Ehden is not a UNESCO World Heritage site, but is one of Lebanon's protected nature reserves, which the other two are not, and yet not that far away from them.

The press release for the report can be read on the Full Story page.


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If you ever surf the net and use search engines for names such as - Zgharta - Ehden - Frangieh - Mouawad - you sometimes come up with surprise discoveries.

Once such example under the family name of Frangieh is, Bassam K Frangieh, an academic, author, translator and surprisingly former boxing champion. It is understood that he is distantly related to former Minister Sleiman Tony Frangieh, being part of the Palestinian branch of the family.

To read more about Bassam visit the website www.allexperts.com and the external link to Yale University. The photograph is of Bassam.

Another name we come across is journalist, Jad Mouawad, who writes for the New York Times. But we have been unable to find more about him. Can anyone help.

The Lebanese newspapers, The Daily Star and L'Orient Le Jour, reported today, 29th March 2007, the US Ambassador's reception last night in honour of Women's History Month. Among the invited 100 guests was Ms Sandra Saba, the Manager of the Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve.

The articles are reproduced on the Full Story page.
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On Thursday, 22nd March 2007, some seventy people attended the Australian Embassy's registration drive, held at the Pierre Farshakh Hall, Municipal Theatre, Zgharta.

Through the aid of an interpreter the Consulate official explained the reason behind registration and answered questions. He said of the estimated 20,000 Australian passport holders living in Lebanon only some 2,000 were registered. Further he said that they were resolving past problems at the Embassy concerning the registering of children and obtaining visas. He noted that emigrants from Zgharta have made a significant contribution to the Lebanese community in Australia.

Australian citizens can also register online from this link.

 

On Thursday, 22nd March 2007, at the Zgharta Municipal Hall, those Zghartawiens who hold Australian nationality can register themselves with the Australian Embassy, between 11.00 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.

The current website of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs says it is estimated that there are between 20-25,000 Australian passport holders resident in Lebanon. The registration is not compulsory and is for the Embassy in Beirut records in case of an emergency, as was the case during the 34 day conflict last summer.

Those who wish to register need to produce an Australian passport or Australian citizenship certificate for each person to be registered. You can also check if you are registered or update your details, such an email address.

Australian citizens can also register online from this link.

For the past four years the Maronite Community in São Paulo has been the subject to division with its two principal organisations, the "Sociedade Maronita de Beneficência" and the "Liga São Charbel do Brasil", each with its supporters and distracters, at odds with one another.

However in recent weeks there are signs of reconciliation due largely to the presence and work of the newly appointed Maronite Bishop of the Eparchy of Brazil, Bishop Edgar Madi. He is one of the youngest Maronite Bishops being born at Beit Mery in 1956,he was ordained as a priest in 1983 and appointed Bishop in October 2006. At his installation in Sao Paulo on 10th December 2006 was the Ehden born, Bishop Emile Paul Saade.

At a meeting of both organisations on 7th March 2007 at the São Paulo Parish Hall the organisations both agreed to support the Bishop's endeavours to heal the division and to unite the organisations. It is envisage that they will unite under the style of the Sociedade Maronita de Beneficência, which was created in 1897, and remain at the organisation's current headquarters.

Prior to his retirement in October 2006, the former Bishop of the Eparchy, Bishop Mahfouz, was a keen supporter of the League of Saint Charbel of Brazil, presided by Farid Kheir. It is felt however that the League has not achieved its goals in recent years.The Maronite community is now hopeful of the new tenure of Bishop Madi and his attempts to bring unity to the whole community.

During the present visit of the Patriarchal Vicar General, Bishop Roland Abou Jaoudé to Sao Paulo (15th to 18th March) it is hoped that the reconciliation will be strengthen at a meeting at the headquarters of the Sociedade Maronita de Beneficência. The Bishop is in Brazil to launch the Brazilian programme of Auxilia International.

Throughout such divisions the Zgharta community in São Paulo has sought to remain above the affray and to seek harmony in the Maronite Community. Recognising, that the League São Charbel, was officially blessed by Pope John Paul II, and its previous contribution to the Maronite community. The Zgharta community number up to sixty families comprising of first, second and third generations. It will support Bishop Madi in his efforts, recognising that he is the true and only head of the Brazilian Maronite community.

This article was submitted by Dr Assad Frangieh, co founder of our Brazilian sister site - www.brazil.zgharta.com

It has been reported that Raymond Doumit Teres, (42), born in the village of Al Fawar, Zgharta, was kidnapped on Wednesday, 28th February 2007, near the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. His wife, Rania Awad and three children live in the village of Miziara

He has been working in Nigeria for some 15 years with his brother, Rene, who is reported to be in contact with the kidnappers. Teres was working on a project for Alren Construction Co. Nigeria Ltd. when he was seized by four gunmen.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reports that Minister Mrs Nayla René Mouawad has been in contact with the Nigerian authorities concerning the case.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Raymond and his family.

News update 5 March 2007 Happy news, Raymond has been released by his captors.