"The export of instability from Syria threatens the security of Lebanon now more than ever," — State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland as the Obama administration threw its support behind efforts by Lebanon's president to form a new government in the aftermath of last week's deadly car bombing in Beirut that many blame on Syria or its ally, Hezbollah.

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"Those whose laboratory practices caused this outbreak should never practice pharmacy or manufacture in Massachusetts again." — Gov. Deval Patrick after state officials investigating a pharmacy linked to a deadly outbreak of meningitis they found shoddy sterilization practices and unclean conditions there, including debris-covered floor mats and standing water from a leaking boiler.

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"I said from the beginning, 'Who killed General Wissam al-Hassan and was behind the terrorist attack?' They are the Syrian and Iranian regimes through the hands of Hezbollah." — Parliament member Khaled Daher in a statement as Syria's powerful ally Hezbollah was accused by Lebanese political opponents of playing a role in the assassination of a top intelligence officer who used his post to fight Syrian meddling in Lebanon.