Press Digest for Wednesday May 2, 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. 

• Tenenti denies reports on UNIFIL deployment in Syria         

UNIFIL deputy spokesman Andrea Tenenti denied media reports suggesting that a number of UNIFIL units will be pulled out from Lebanon to be stationed in Syria, describing the reports as “ill-founded”.  

In a statement to Acharq al-Awsat daily, Tenenti said the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon is grounded on the adherence to the clauses of Resolution 1701, highlighting the maintenance of security and stability in the south and the respect of the blue line.   

 “UNIFIL has no role or activity in Syria,” he confirmed.  
                                     

• Al-Watan reveals armed group in Arida targeting General Security     

Lebanese security sources revealed to the Syrian al-Watan daily the presence of a 20-member armed group, made up of 8 Syrians, 2 Libyans and 10 Lebanese, in the border town of Arida.   

The sources added that the armed group is headed by two persons: a Syrian national, identified as Mohammad Khalaf, and a Lebanese national hailing from the town of Arida.   

According to the daily, the group is tasked with launching military offensive against Syrian border guards, departments of General Security, customs and Syrian intelligence on the Arida border crossing, as well as Syrian buses crossing into Lebanon through the international road.      

The sources added that the group act under the orders of monitors that take certain road restaurants as their base of operations, as they revealed information proving that Abd al-Ghani Jawhar is still alive and that all reports regarding his death are false.