Press Digest for Wednesday March 14, 2012

• Berri: Thursday agenda includes important draft laws                        

Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed to al-Joumhouria daily that the 8.9 trillion LBP issue will not be included in the legislative session agenda, adding that he will only table this draft law when combined with the 2006-2010 expenditure and revenues draft law which is being prepared by the cabinet.     

Berri added that the Thursday session will approve several draft laws that are important for the Lebanese, such as the reduction of the one-year prison sentence, the wage increase and transportation allowance.                                                                

• Damascus says has foiled infiltration attempt by “terrorist groups” into Lebanon, Beirut denies       

Syria announced on Tuesday that it had foiled an infiltration attempt by “armed terrorist group” into Lebanon through the Syrian towns of Jisr Qmar and Arida in Talkalakh.     

The Syrian authorities added that several terrorists were wounded in the clash as they fled with the rest of the group towards the Lebanese territory.    

However, Lebanese security sources denied to Acharq al-Awsat daily that the Lebanese security forces are aware of such information, explaining that Syrian authorities have not officially notified Lebanon of the incident.                  
 

• Nasrallah, Hamas delegation meet, discuss developments in Syria, Gaza

As-Safir learned on Wednesday that Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah met on Monday with a Hamas delegation headed by Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of the movement’s political office, in the presence of several Hamas’ leaders.    

The meeting addressed the developments in Gaza and Syria as well as the Muslim Brotherhood’s relationship with Hezbollah and Iran, according to participants in the meeting.     

The sources added that Nasrallah and Hamas agreed during the meeting on establishing a joint venture that would be a first step toward addressing the developments in Syria and ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, amid recent developments witnessed by Arab states as well as the Western and Arab attempts to besiege the emerging Islamist movements and foil their governing experience.