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 Forces bloc MP Joseph
al-Maalouf said on Thursday that the city of Zahle is withstanding a dire situation
at the social and security levels due to the widespread incidents that are
taking place in the Central and Northern Bekaa.
MP al-Maalouf added that the said
incidents are a result of "Hezbollah's military involvement in Syria,"
stressing the need to abide by the Baabda Declaration.
On another note, MP al-Maalouf told
An-Nahar daily that the increasing number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is
taking a toll on the country, calling on the concerned authorities to take
appropriate measures in order to deal with the negative repercussions on Lebanon.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted the
guests of Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam as saying to him that former
Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the head of the Future bloc Fouad Siniora are seeking to
hold negotiations with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in
order to form a government of national reconciliation.
On the other hand, well-informed
sources confirmed that the aforementioned issue is false, adding that "those rumors
aim at hurdling the mission of PM-Designate Salam".
Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun
stressed that his bloc and Hezbollah have different standpoints, adding however that "they
are not in a state of conflict".
In this context, MP Aoun told
Acharq
al-Awsat daily that "the dispute between both parties is of a political nature,"
pointing out that his bloc aims at taking office in a bid to reform the Lebanese
State but "Hezbollah prioritizes in accordance to its mission, i.e. the resistance".
MP Aoun also stressed that the
Change and Reform bloc will not part ways with Hezbollah, noting that his bloc
is exerting efforts to reach an agreement with all Lebanese parties throughout the
current circumstances.
Al-Joumhouria daily reported that Maronite
Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai had asked his Deputy Bishop Boulos
al-Sayyah to visit Sidon's Roman Catholic Diocese and the region of Abra, adding that the security forces had repeatedly asked Bkerke to defer the visit
due to the security situation in Southern Lebanon.
The newspaper added that the security forces warned "the visit could prompt the
supporters of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir to attack the Bishops" on the backdrop of Cardinal
Rai's stances in regards to the Syrian crisis.
Well-informed sources reported however
that Cardinal Rai is adamant on visiting the city of Sidon, noting that he will
send on Friday Bishop al-Sayyah accompanied with Maronite Archbishop of Beirut
Boulos Matar to visit the coastal city.