Press Digest for Monday March 03, 2014

4^min

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.

Number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon may reach 4 million in 2015

Sources told An-Nahar daily on Monday that the Lebanese delegation will submit documents to the International Support Group for Lebanon, due to convene in Paris on Wednesday the 5th of March.

The documents tackle the rising influx of Syrian refugees into the Lebanese territories amid estimates that their number may reach 4 million in 2015.

The conference, to be held at the Elysee palace, will be inaugurated with the speech of French President Francois Hollande, followed by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman.

Sleiman is also set to hold discussions with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other senior officials.

Geagea says Hezbollah deems Sleiman’s act as rebellion

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed on Monday that the latest speech of President Michel Sleiman, which drew a response from Hezbollah, highlights the stance of the majority of the Lebanese people "who are fed up with Hezbollah’s practices".

Geagea also told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the people should not be surprised by Hezbollah’s stances as they see how the group deals with the state, its institutions and the presidency.

“Hezbollah deems the President’s act as a rebellion and considers that the 'real decision' is issued by the group itself,” LF leader added.

Abou Faour says ministerial statement drafting committee unable to reach understanding

Sources told An-Nahar daily that National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt held phone conversations with Speaker Nabih Berri and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in order to settle the ministerial statement issue.

In this regard, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour told An-Nahar daily that the ministerial statement drafting committee is unable to reach a political understanding over Hezbollah’s participation in Syria and the People-Army-Resistance formula.

MP Hamadeh says Hezbollah’s attack on the President shocked all the Lebanese

“Hezbollah’s heinous attack on President Michel Sleiman not only shocked the President but the whole country as well,” MP Marwan Hamadeh told Al-Joumhouria newspaper.

MP Hamadeh added that the dangerous aspects of the verbal attack against the President should be dealt with during the next three months, or else they will eliminate the Presidency and its institutions as well as the country’s unity and sovereignty.

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