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.
Interior
Minister Marwan Charbel told
al-Joumhouria daily that a behavioral
investigation was launched into the arrest of Shadi Mawlawi inside a social
service office in Tripoli to elucidate relevant facts, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Charbel
considered that the officer who carried out the arrest is “noteworthy” given
the scale of the case, adding, however, that the officer must be blame for the
way the arrest was carried out if any violation of law during the process was
proven.
An-Nahar daily reported that the 6 detainees, topped by Shadi Mawlawi, against whom Judge
Sakr Sakr filed a lawsuit, include a Jordanian, Palestinian and Qatari, adding
that interrogations are focusing on their possible link with al-Qaeda.
Official
sources explained to the daily that the case over which Mawlawi and his
companions were arrested is linked to a terrorist organization that is affiliated
to al-Qaeda.
The
sources added that the organization’s members are of different nationalities and that
they were in Afghanistan trying to recruit people to the organization.
Change
and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun tied the events in the north with those
in Syria, wondering: “Is it this “Brotherhood” rule that they want in Lebanon?”
Commenting
on the ministerial crisis, Aoun told
Al-Akhbar daily that he did not get what
he wants from the cabinet, adding “they sabotaged the ministerial work exactly as
they did with the electricity plan when they procrastinated over its implementation,
and as they did with the appointment issue; and now the same [scenario is being
played] with the financial issue.”
Aoun
said that Preisdent Michel Sleiman is the direct responsible for the financial
issue, saying “we will attack in an escalating manner if officials at the cabinet
do not act decisively; we will unmask them if they keep obstructing the
ministerial work.”
Official
sources told
Al-Mustaqbal daily that General Security Director General Abbas
Ibrahim had visited Damascus 3 days before the arrest of Shadi Mawlawi and the
entailed events.
The
sources added that Ibrahim met in Damascus with a number of Syrian officials.
LAF
Commander Jean Kahwaji confirmed to
al-Akhbar daily that the army troops had
entered the clash scene in Tripoli from the first moment but they came under
fire. “Everything will be settled and the situation will gradually return to
normal”, he added,
Kahwaji
stressed the LAF began to deploy in the Baal Mohsen area, adding that the deployment
included the Riga buildings. He added that the Airborne Regiment also entered
Baal Mohsen and Bakkar.