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.
Security
sources told
al-Joumhouria daily that there are two different accounts of the
incident in Qosaya where gunshots and missiles were reportedly heard in the
town, known to be a base for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
– General Command.
According to
the first account, a schism surfaced within the Palestinian factions.
While the
second account maintains that the area came under an attack by Free Syrian Army’s
units, which control the Syrian side facing the Palestinian base, adding that
the attack was launched from the Syrian side in a bid to take over the bases in
collaboration with Palestinian groups.
Labor
Minister Charbel Nahhas told
As-Safir daily that speeding up the issuance of
the wage increase decree, through a special appendix of the official gazette, aims
at putting the decree into effect before the end of January.
Nahhas
denied that his non-signing of the transportation allowance decree would entail
his “sack” or the workers’ loss of a significant part of their salaries.
“The
Labor ministry was tasked by the cabinet with preparing a draft law to legalize
the transportation allowance,” he added.
Nahhas
added that all workers, whether senior or new, will benefit from the increase.
Well-informed
sources told
An-Nahar daily that the Syrian authorities reiterated the position
they had originally put forth regarding the Arida incident.
After
investigating the incident, the Syrian authorities maintain that the fishermen’s
naval vessel was in Syrian territorial waters, the sources added.
According
to the same sources, the LAF was aware of all developments related to the
incident from the beginning until the handover of the boat.
An-Nahar
daily reported on Friday that Speaker Nabih Berri has called on his representatives
in the cabinet to insist on moving forward with the appointments issue.
Berri
added that it is required of each minister to assume his responsibility in this
regards to settle the issue of appointments mechanism.
Future
Movement’s sources told
Al-Akhbar daily that it was decided to limit the anniversary
of the former PM Rafik Hariri’s martyrdom on March 14 to Biel’s main hall due
to political circumstances.
The
sources added that preparatory meetings of the ceremony will be announced next
Tuesday.