Press Digest for Tuesday April 03, 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.      

• Hariri meets Hmedeh in Paris to unify March 14 ranks

According to An-Nahar newspaper former PM Saad Hariri met in Paris with March 14 MP Marwan Hmedeh to discuss the current opposition’s internal structure as well as the upcoming political steps to oppose the government and its decision.   

Hmedeh told the newspaper after his meeting that the electoral law issue was suddenly opened to hide the government’s failure on other scales. “We refuse 1960’s electoral law it was passed previously by other governments but this time we will do our best to prevent it”.  

• Diplomatic sources: Assad might not leave soon

Arab diplomatic sources who participated in the “Friends of Syria” conference in Istanbul told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the conference managed to establish strong opposition basis unlike the first conference held in Tunis.

The sources added that these conferences will seek internationalization of the Syrian file until the international community takes clear stances towards the issue. “What happened on Sunday was the first true achievement on the political level since the beginning of the appraisal”, the sources told Al-Joumhouria.

“Assad might not leave power soon but eventually time will come where Syria will be free”.            

• Israel willing to solve maritime border dispute with Lebanon

Lebanese political sources working on the maritime border issue with Israel told As-Safir newspaper that Cyprus has informed Lebanon about Israel’s will to finalize the disputed area delimitation on peaceful grounds in order to allow both countries to benefit from the resources.

The sources revealed that ongoing talks between Lebanon and Cyprus regarding that issue has been intensified lately in order to reach an agreement accepted by the three concerned countries.    

• Daher accuses Hezbollah of Tripoli shooting

Future Party MP Khaled Daher told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that Hezbollah cells are responsible for the latest shootings in Tripoli on Saturday night, adding that the Lebanese Armed Forces have revealed the identity of the perpetrators. “The security forces are controlled by the Syrian Regime and March 8 forces; they are trying to accuse us of all the incidents especially in the Sunni areas”, Daher said.