Gossip from Arab world

Hariri's Heartbreak

May Hariri is facing six months in jail for hiding her three-year-old daughter from her ex-husband. Her husband was awarded custody of the child by the courts over a year ago. Hariri — who has already lost custody of her eldest daughter from her first marriage — decided to ignore the court order, saying she will never give her child to her ex-husband.

When the press tried to get in touch with her, the singer said she was shocked and saddened by the court's latest order to hand over the child or face jail time.

“I am a human being. Even animals fight if their cubs are taken from them. During my whole life I lived horrible moments because of custody issues. I just want to have my rights respected as a mother,'' she said. “Why doesn't my ex-husband just let me be? He is married and he has a child. I just want to keep my daughter with me. I told the judge a year ago that I am ready to quit showbiz if necessary just to stay with my daughter,'' she added sobbing.

Hariri said that nobody would ever know where she is hiding her three-year-old daughter. “If I die, I will take my secret with me,'' she added.

Lebbos has her say

Lebanese showbiz has been rocked with scandal as actress Carmen Lebbos has declared that she knew Assi Rahbani was not actor Ziad Rahbani's biological son. The actress met Ziad in the '80s and lived with him for 13 years. She said: “I knew that Dalal (Ziad Rahbani's ex-wife) was not pregnant with the artist's child. I know that Assi junior is not Ziad's son.''

Stories have long circulated about Assi's paternity and Ziad confirmed the rumours earlier this year, announcing that Assi was not his child, following DNA tests.