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.
Lebanese Speaker Nabih
Berri denied reports stating that members of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah
participated in the battle of Abra, noting that he called on Sidon's residents
and the movement’s members to control their actions and support the Lebanese Army.
In a statement to
as-Safir Daily, Berri stressed that the Lebanese Armed Forces have the total
right to impose security and stability by striking with an iron fist when needed, and are also free to take the measures they deem necessary, pointing out
that no red lines or closed zones stand in their way.
On the other hand, Berri
considered that the stance taken by former PM Saad Hariri regarding the attack
against the army was “good” and that his relation with President Michel
Sleiman is “well”, noting that he agreed with Prime Minister-Designate Tammam
Salam to hasten the formation of the new cabinet.
Top political sources
told
as-Safir Newspaper that the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam is still
insisting on forming a government according to the 8-8-8 formula, noting that no new developments have been reported regarding the new cabinet, awaiting
the return of caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour and Taymour
Walid Jumblatt from Saudi Arabia where they held meetings with former PM Saad
Hariri.
The sources added that
the Future Movement and its allies have started to promote a new formula for
the new cabinet, that states that ending the Sheikh Ahmad Assir phenomenon
should go in line with a cabinet that does not include forces from the March 8
camp. The sources stressed that presenting such a formula will “completely halt
the formation process.”
An-Nahar Daily reported
that former PM Saad Hariri met on Tuesday morning in Riyadh - Saudi Arabia, with
caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who also held talks with a
number of Saudi officials.
On another note, sources
close to PM-Designate Tammam Salam told the newspaper that the meeting held
between Speaker Nabih Berri and Salam on Monday was fruitful, where they
discussed the latest developments in the country that require a fast solution
for the issue of the new cabinet.
Sources close to
Hezbollah denied reports stating that members of the party have participated in
the military operations in the region of Abra, stressing that some members were
in their usual locations prepared to defend themselves in case of any attack against
them.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria Daily, the sources added that the Shiite party is keeping itself
away from any internal conflicts, pointing out that Assir has attempted to drag
it into battles several times but Hezbollah members avoided direct response.
The same sources added
that the party has been avoiding involvement in any sectarian or
confessional dispute, stressing on the other hand that it is seeking to
prevent any security event from escalating.