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 stressed that the Parliamentary session will be held as scheduled,
calling on all parties to attend in order to discuss all pending issues.
However, he denied that
the Future bloc had demanded the extension of the term of LAF Commander Jean
Kahwagi and ISF Chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi as preconditions for its participation in the session, noting that he has not yet heard such
official statements.
This as
an-Nahar Daily
reported that the meeting held between President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri
and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday evening
aimed at finding common grounds between the three parties ahead of the
parliamentary session.
The newspaper added that
a decree is being drafted concerning an extraordinary session for the Parliament to be held next week, while maintaining the same agenda.
As-Safir Daily reported
that the pre-trial Judge at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Daniel Fransen
will set a date to start the trials before the judicial holiday kicks off in mid-August,
in case the prosecutors complied with the schedules and the Lebanese authorities
met the demands of the defense.
The newspaper added that
Judge Fransen is keen on dealing with the ongoing disagreements between the
Lebanese parties with a positive attitude.
In this context,
well-informed sources told
as-Safir that Fransen is avoiding any dispute with
the Lebanese authorities by resorting to the UN Security Council to oblige corporation.
Sources close to the
meeting held between the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun and
President Michel Sleiman told
al-Joumhouria Daily that the meeting was the
result of an initiative launched by Sleiman and welcomed by Aoun.
The sources pointed out
that Aoun’s move comes within the framework of his policy adopted to reconsider
his relations with his allies and positively dealing with other parties, including
the president, noting that there is no personal dispute between the two
parties, only a political disagreement.
The same sources
revealed that the meeting held on Thursday will open the door for many other
meetings to be held at the Baabda Palace and elsewhere.
Sources
told
al-Akhbar Newspaper that the
audio recording of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir which was released on Thursday evening on the internet and news channels raised doubts
stating that al-Assir may have changed his looks by shaving his beard in order
to remain in hiding.
The
same sources added that he may be hiding in an underground basement in the Ain
al-Helwe Palestinian refugee camp, noting that he may keep on releasing audio recordings
over the upcoming weeks.
On the other hand,
al-Joumhouria Daily reported that
security sources questioned the validity of the recording and its timing since
the part where al-Assir mentions the date of recording the audio is not clear
and may have been edited.
Al-Akhbar Newspaper said that the incitements against the
Lebanese Army practiced by the imams of mosques in Iqlim al-Kharroub who are
affiliated with the Islamic Group have reduced following the Abra clashes, but
provocations against Hezbollah and the Syrian regime continue.
However, the Sheikhs in the said region complain about
the pressure exerted by the member of the Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar and
his continuous interventions in the religious speeches, asking them to incite
against Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army.