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.
Sources told
al-Liwaa newspaper on Wednesday that Speaker Nabih Berri ruled out the possibility of a political vacuum in Lebanon.
Sources added that Speaker Berri reiterated to his visitors his rejection of the 1960 electoral law, noting however that he will amend it should Christian candidates running for the upcoming parliamentary elections submit their candidacies.
According to the Daily, Lebanese leaders became "more convinced" in the technical extension of the parliament's mandate, ruling out the possibility of drafting a consensual electoral draft law in the near future.
Security sources asserted to
al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that Tripoli will witness unprecedented clashes should the Lebanese Armed Forces not interfere to stop the military operations.
In this context, the secretary-general of the Arab Democratic Party Refaat Eid told
al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday that contacts reached Damascus "to convince the party to halt all military operations."
Eid added that fighters of Bab al-Tabbaneh attacked and shot at the Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers.
Parliamentary sources told
al-Hayat newspaper on Wednesday that Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun is preparing an alteration in his political stances, mainly towards Hezbollah.
Sources added that MP Aoun is threatening Hezbollah of lifting the political cover of the party in order to make it approve his conditions.
According to the Daily, MP Aoun is attempting to change his political stances towards Hezbollah in order to absorb criticism toward the party's involvement in fighting alongside the Syrian troops in al-Qusayr .
Sources told
al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday that MP Saad Hariri telephoned the head of the Internal Security Forces Information Branch Colonel Imad Othman to send reinforcements to prevent Mufti Ahmad Nassar from entering Dar-al-Fatwa.
In this context, Mufti of Sidon Salim Sousan told the Daily that he attempted to ease down the rhetoric in order to spare Sidon strife.
He reiterated that he is the only Mufti of Sidon appointed by the Higher Islamic Council and said he will not hand over Dar-al-Fatwa "as long as he is alive."
A US diplomatic told
al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the US administration is relieved in regard to Lebanese leaders tasking Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam to form the new government.
According to the Daily, the diplomat said that Lebanon's major threat resides in the salafist groups which intimidate its security and stability.
The diplomat said that he expects fierce clashes will erupt between these salafist groups and Hezbollah in Lebanon.