The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the
Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content,
giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed
in newspapers across the Arab world.
As-Safir daily revealed that extensive consultations
took place in the past few days, focusing on the idea of changing the government
and replacing it with a national unity cabinet in which all parties are represented.
In a statement to
an-Nahar daily, security sources
refused to disclose the names of the 4 people involved in the Monday attack on
the headquarters of al-Jadeed TV as well as the statements made by the arrested
Wissam Alaa al-Dine in order to preserve the confidentiality of investigations.
Concerned sources revealed to the daily that the
people behind the attack are probably affiliated with a certain local
organization and were provoked by the statements earlier made by Sheikh Ahmad
Assir during a morning talk show on al-Jadeed TV. According to the sources,
these members sought to “address a certain message” to Assir without the consent
of the organization’s leadership.
Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, the Imam of Bilal Bin Rabah
Mosque in Sidon, accused once again the Shia sect, particularly Hezbollah and Amal
Movement, of insulting
a wife of Muslim Prophet Mohammad, citing the toy gun that is allegedly spurring
sectarian tension.
In a statement to
an-Nahar daily, Assir stressed
that the toy in question is available in many Arab countries such as Sudan, adding
that the audio
recording featured the voice of an Iraqi man that was added to the original recording.
In turn, the head of Dar al-Fatwa’s department of
public affairs, Sheikh Shadi al-Masry, confirmed that, according to the results
of investigations carried out by security apparatuses,
Assir’s accusations are unfounded.
Sheikh Masry
explained that the toy’s recording was copied to a CD that revealed its exact
words and which “do not insult Aisha in any way”. The sheikh added that the
results, which were also provided by the Army Command, reveal that the controversial
recording voices an English sentence that goes as follows: “Go, Go and take the
hostages”.
Al-Joumhouria daily reported that the Progressive Socialist
Party is gearing up, for the first time, for popular movements and protests to
be staged in al-Jabal over the electricity issue and frequent power shortages
sweeping Lebanon.
Interior Minister Marwan Chabrel told
al-Liwaa
daily that the month-long security plan that will come into effect as of Wednesday
aims at portraying Lebanon as a “safe haven” for the Arab countries.
Charbel added that, during the “security month”, no
one is allowed to open fire or block roads for any reason, confirming that the
security plan also aims at reinforcing the role of security apparatuses on the
ground.