Press Digest for Sunday February 12, 2012

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.  

• Alloush: The fall of the Syrian regime is the solution

The head of the political committee of the Arab Democratic Party Refaat Ali Eid told Asharq al Awsat newspaper that the Party did not participate in Tripoli clashes but it was targeted by Salafi groups as well as Future Movement militia.

Eid added that Jabal Mohsen suffered from heavy shelling. “We are not firing back; the army has been deployed in Bab el Tebbaneh and they will defend us”, Eid mentioned.

On the other hand, Future Movement member MP Mustapha Alloush said that the clashes do not have any sectarian background  but are pure political.

“Some of the fighters belong to Future Movement but we cannot control every one, the problem between Bab el Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen will be solved with the fall of the Syrian Regime”, Alloush was quoted as saying.    

• Seniora: The unipolar government is dangerous to Lebanon

The head of Future Movement Parliamentarian Bloc MP Fouad Seniora told An-Nahar newspaper that PM Najib Mikati’s Hezbollah-led cabinet helped spreading confusion, economic regression and political failure.

He also accused the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition of being involved in several scandals such as alleged violations carried out by the energy and telecommunications ministries and the rejection of Labor Minister Charbel Nahas to sign the transportation allowance decree linked to a recent official wage hike .

“Lebanon is experiencing a unipolar rule led by Hezbollah and this unprecedented event is dangerous for everyone”, Seniora revealed.      

• Juppe: Mikati should join Syria’s opposition ranks

European Diplomatic sources told Al-Hayat newspaper that the French FM Alain Juppe called on PM Najib Mikati, during his last visit to Paris, to take an opposing stance against the Syrian Regime and Syrian President Bashar Assad’s rule at the “Syrian People’s friends” conference which will be held soon.

Mikati met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and discussed the latest event in the Middle East as well as Lebanon’s policy to distance itself from the ongoing changes in the region.