Introduction to the evening news 01-05-2012

As of tonight, all local eyes will be on the movement and positions of U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman who arrived in Beirut this evening and initiated his meetings with MP Walid Jumblatt.     

This time, Feltman will meet with President Sleiman, in addition to Speaker Berri and PM Mikati. He is also expected to meet with March 14 figures at the house of MP Boutros Harb.      

No matter how important, Feltman’s visit will definitely not mask several other issues at the forefront of which we have the Baabda-Rabieh conflict that was made public by the media, and is expected to be highlighted further during the cabinet sessions of tomorrow and Thursday.      

In Syria, it seems that the deteriorating situation in the field beat the observers’ efforts. Well-informed sources reported that more than 30 people were killed today at a time when a crisis between Damascus and the U.N. began to loom on the horizon, due to the issue of visas to some observers.       

In the most prominent Arab development, Saudi newspapers reported that an Iranian network of three persons plotted to assassinate Saudi ambassador to Cairo three months ago; this network was arrested before being able to carry out the assassination.