Introduction to the evening news 26-12-2011

In Lebanon, politics should take the front seat once again as of tomorrow and the cabinet will have on its plate two main courses. The first is that of the wage raise issue and its complications within the cabinet in light of the long wait for the Shura Council’s decision.

The second issue is related to the remarks made by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on the infiltration of Al Qaeda members from the border village of Arsal to Syria. Ghosn reiterated his statements today by saying that what he said was not based on speculations rather information he had access to and thought that should be made available to the public opinion. Ghosn’s clarification did not prevent MP Walid Jumblatt from criticizing him.

Jumblatt voiced hope that some officials acquire a sense of wisdom in tackling delicate security issues as was the case for the elastic excuse of Al Qaeda that is being stretched out for use at any time and by anyone.  

On the Syrian front, Tuesday will herald an actual beginning from the monitor’s mission to Syria. A source close to the mission said that a delegation will visit Damascus, Hama and Idlib on Tuesday and Al Qamechli, Tartous, Banias and Seir al-Zour on Wednesday. This move comes at a time when opposition websites announced that Syrian forces launched a violent attack in Homs before the arrival of the mission.