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.
Former Lebanese Internal Security Forces
(ISF) Major General Ashraf Rifi said on Friday that the Syrian situation has a direct
impact on the security situation in Lebanon, noting that the rate of criminal
acts has increased and the strategic situation has worsened.
"When Hezbollah calls for Jihad
in Syria, the group should expect a "counter Jihad" in return,"
Major General Rifi added.
In this regard, Rifi told
Al
Mustaqbal daily that he had tackled the said issues about four weeks ago with
the ministerial committee tasked with addressing the issue of Syrian refugees
in the presence of President Michel Sleiman and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib
Mikati.
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan
Charbel commented on what had been published yesterday by
Al-Akhbar newspaper
about CIA reports indicating that al-Qaeda had prepared large explosive devices
to be used in Lebanon.
In this context, Charbel stressed
that the Lebanese security apparatuses are taking preemptive measures in light
of the local and regional situation, adding that "they do not need further
information to be aware of the situation's sensitivity".
Separately, Charbel stressed the
need to launch a "direct" dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future
bloc, pointing out that "it will ease tensions in Lebanon".
Al-Akhbar
newspaper quoted sources close to Hezbollah as saying that "there is a strategic
relationship between the group and the Change and Reform Bloc, regardless of
discrepancies concerning Lebanese internal issues".
The daily
also quoted sources close to the March 8 coalition as saying that "the Change
and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun shares the same political views with
Hezbollah," adding that "MP Aoun supports the resistance".
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea condemned the Bir al-Abed
explosion, describing it as a criminal act on the national and humanitarian
levels.
In this regard, Geagea held Hezbollah accountable for the
said incident following the group's involvement in the Syrian battles, adding
that "he rejects Hezbollah's participation in the Lebanese government".
On another note, Geagea told
An-Nahar daily that the "phenomenon" of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir was "strange", stressing that he
rejects Hezbollah's stances as well as the Salafist policy.