Lebanese journalist fined for libel

A court in Lebanon has fined a journalist for "damaging the reputation" of the country's president. Zahi Wehbi must pay 50m Lebanese pounds (£17,000) because the court ruled that an article he wrote in Al-Mustaqbal two years ago about President Emile Lahoud - headlined "His excellency the murderer" - was libellous. The paper's director, Toufic Khattab, was also ordered to pay a similar fine. Wehbi says the court's decision is "unfair" and he will appeal. Al-Mustaqbal is owned by the family of the late prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in 2005. (Via Daily Star)