Press Digest for Friday August 16, 2013

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.

   

• Sheikh Zgheib slams actions of LAF Intelligence bureau           

Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who had been tasked by the Higher Islamic Shiite Council to follow up on the case of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria's Aazaz voiced his regret that the abduction of the Turkish pilots has reopened the file of the Aazaz hostages, noting that the outstanding file will soon be settled.
        
In an interview with Al-Hayat newspaper, Sheikh Zgheib slammed the actions undertaken by the Lebanese Armed Forces Intelligence bureau since "they undermine the Lebanese state," calling on the institution to be fair with the Lebanese people.           

"Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel had stressed that Mohammad Saleh is only a witness and that he is not involved in the abduction of the Turkish nationals," Sheikh Zgheib added.           

• Salam adamant on the formation of a government of national interest- sources            

Well-informed sources told Asharq al-Awsat daily that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam is adamant on the formation of a government of national interest, noting that he still insists on the conditions he had set forth.          

The same sources also reported that the PM-Designate does not support the formation of a 'fait accompli' government, pointing out that Salam had held a meeting two days ago with President Michel Sleiman whereby they agreed on holding further consultations in order to form a cabinet of national interest.            

• Reasons behind the Roueis explosion- sources              

Sources close to Hezbollah told the Kuwaiti Al-Rai newspaper that the "criminal" act that took place in the region of Roueis indicates that it was motivated by one of two reasons:        

1- The Roueis explosion is an attempt to affect the situation in the Beirut Southern Suburbs, drawing it closer to incidents taking place in Iraq's Baghdad.
        
2- The explosion is an Israeli reaction to the speech delivered by the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nsarallah whereby he claimed responsibility for the of 2 landmine explosions that targeted 4 Israeli soldiers on the 7th of August in South Lebanon's Al-Labbouneh region. 
    

• HIC to take practical steps to isolate Grand Mufti Qabbani- sources          

Sources close to the Higher Islamic Council reported that the Council will hold a meeting next week under the chairmanship of Vice President Omar al-Meskawi in order to take practical steps to isolate Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani.              

The same sources told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anbaa that the HIC will take "fateful" decisions in regards to the Dar al-Fatwa institutions, noting that the failure to isolate Mufti Qabbani is due to disputes over the nomination of a new person  for the office.