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.
The International Support Group for Lebanon is expected to convene in Paris in March upon the invitation of the French government, in a bid to establish two funds: the first one aims to back Lebanon’s economy and the other to help the Syrian refugees.
Sources also told
An-Nahar daily that the establishment of the two funds comes as the international community is aware of Lebanon’s need to urgent assistance, adding however that donors and international organizations need to deal with official authorities in this regard.
This as, officials said they cannot provide assistance to a caretaker government but to a constitutional cabinet, noting that they are urging the Lebanese parties to avoid political vacuum and elect a new President on time.
After Justice Palace employees received on Thursday a phone call warning that a large explosion will take place at the Palace at 12 noon, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that it was not the first time such incidents occur.
“We cannot ignore such a phone call in light of the current security situation,” he said.
“After examining the communications data, investigations have shown that a woman had called the Justice Palace,” Charbel said, adding that investigations are underway to reveal her identity.
Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated to
An-Nahar daily his commitment to avoiding interference in consultations over the formation of a new cabinet.
In a question directed at Berri over the actions he would undertake if the ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement, Marada party, Hezbollah and Tashnag party resign, he said: “I do not rush things. I have to await and examine the governmental line-up”.
Speaker Berri also responded to claims that Hezbollah is behind FPM leader MP Michel Aoun’s refusal to form a new cabinet, and said: “They are being unfair with Hezbollah. I am certain that the group has been working for the formation of a new government”.
Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour stressed on Friday that the Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt is working on an all-embracing, constitutional government, even if his work will delay the announcement of the government line-up.
“We seek to spare the country further tensions and disputes and we try, as much as possible, not to cancel the settlement which was, more or less, agreed upon,” Abou Faour told
Al-Liwaa newspaper on Friday.
The Minister also called on the political parties to cooperate with the ongoing attempts to pull the country out of the current crisis.
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Lebanon’s State Security hails troops’ efforts in new year security plan