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 Lebanese Armed Forces
Commander Jean Kahwaji stressed on Friday that the army is exerting tireless
efforts in order to thwart any attempt to compromise the Lebanese citizens'
security.
In this regard, Kahwaji told
As-Safir daily that Lebanon is going through a critical phase, calling on all
the parties to be aware of impending hazards and to work hand in hand to ease
tension.
Kahwaji also stressed that the
army will do its utmost in a bid to drive the country out of the crisis at hand.
President Sleiman stressed in
the memorandum he had submitted to the Arab League Secretary General Nabil
al-Arabi that Lebanon has been calling, since the onset of the Syrian
crisis, for Syria's unity, sovereignty and independence, adding that Lebanon
has abided by the policy of dissociation.
In this
context, Sleiman told
An-Nahar newspaper that several Syrian attacks violated
Lebanon's sovereignty, claimed the lives of innocent citizens and caused
material damages, noting that the country is adamant on dealing with the said
violations "in a responsible manner".
Sleiman also
pointed out to the repeated shelling from the Syrian side, mainly when a Syrian
chopper violated Lebanon's airspace on June 12 in Arsal and launched 6 rockets
toward the town's square, noting that those incidents breach Lebanon's
sovereignty and compromise the citizens' safety.
Imam of the Bilal bin Rabah
mosque Sheikh Ahmad Al Assir told the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah Daily that he
may adopt a military solution in order to compel Hezbollah's "gunmen"
to evacuate the group's apartments near the Bilal bin Rabah mosque.
In this regard, Sheikh Assir
accused Hezbollah of being "responsible for the assassination of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri," noting that "the group aimed at weakening the March 14
coalition".
Assir also said that he, along
with his supporters, are obliged to defend themselves, but added however that they
refuse to foment any sectarian strife.
Change and Reform Bloc MP Hekmat Dib told
Al-Joumhouria
newspaper that "there are undoubtedly discrepancies between his bloc and Hezbollah,"
adding that the agreement between both parties on regional and internal matters
will remain the same.
In a question directed at Caretaker Energy and Water
Minister Gebran Bassil over Hezbollah's involvement in Syria, he said that his bloc understands Hezbollah's involvement in Syria's
al-Qusayr, but added however that the group should have clarified
the reasons behind its "unlimited intervention" in Syria.