Press Digest for Sunday February 26, 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.    

• Decisive steps on Monday’s parliamentary session  

Sources close to March 14 coalition told An-Nahar newspaper that the parliament and parliamentary committee meeting set by Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday will carry decisive steps regarding the $6 billion and  $11 billion spent outside the budget plan.  

The sources added that some parties in the government are not willing to vote in favor of the $6 billion on the new budget plan.      

• Seniora should not alone be held accountable  

The Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abu Faour told al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the former PM Fouad Seniora should not alone be held accountable for the additional spending between 2006 and 2009 or the $11 billion, adding that several governments came to power during these 3 years and all political parties were represented.  

“The head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt is trying to avoid further clashes and divisions on the political level in the country”, Abou Faour told the newspaper.    

“The government should be equidistant from all parties in Lebanon; the National Struggle Front does not know anything related to Minister of Labor Charbel Nahas’s resignation”.      

• Ghalyoun: The Saudi stance was impressive  

The head of the Syrian National Council Burhan Ghalyoun told Asharq al Awsat newspaper that “Friends of Syria” conference held in Tunis on Friday is an important step to gather all states and parties supporting the Syrian people’s struggle for freedom and democracy.  

Ghalyoun added that further demands and steps will be decided in upcoming similar meetings.  

“The Saudi stance taken on Friday at the meeting was impressive and I believe that the Syrian people expect similar stances from all countries”, Ghalyoun was quoted as saying.  

“The Tunisian President Al Marzouki did not talk to any SNC member regarding a plan to unify the Syrian opposition”.                  

• Syrians wounded in Tripoli hospitals  

Security sources told Al-Hayat newspaper that one of the injured Syrian citizen transferred to Tripoli’s local hospital in the last few hours was shot in Bab Amro in Homs, adding that he entered Lebanon through illegal crossing on the Northern border with Syria.  

The sources revealed that more wounded and injured Syrians from Homs are expected to illegally cross the border amid the current humanitarian crisis in Bab Amro