Press Digest for Tuesday August 20, 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.

• LAF Intelligence Bureau summons Sheikh Assir’s assistants for investigations      

Sources close to the committee of the Bilal Bin Rabah mosque in Sidon’s Abra region said that the Lebanese Armed Forces' Intelligence Bureau summoned 3 of Sheikh Ahmad Assir’s assistants for investigations.                          

The sources told An-Nahar newspaper that Assir’s assistants were identified as Sheikhs Othman Hnaineh, Alaa Saleh, and Asem Moharram Al-Arfi.
                 
The sources expressed their concern over arresting the 3 Sheikhs seemingly since they have been delivering speeches during demonstrations held by Sheikh Assir’s supporters before the mosque in Sidon.                 

• Presidential sources: Void at any institution weakens the country’s stability             

Presidential sources said that void at any institution weakens the country's stability especially if this institution were to be the executive power, tasked with managing the affairs of citizens.

The sources added to As-Safir newspaper that divisions among Lebanese factions destabilize security and stability; weakening the national immunity of the state, destroying its economy, and hindering its growth.                     

Presidential sources mentioned that holding unconditional dialogue sessions and bearing responsibility of the upcoming entitlements should be taken into account in order to form a cabinet that garners national support.                        

• Sources: Turkish pilot and co-pilot were transferred to 2 different locations                   

An-Nahar newspaper quoted on Tuesday sources following up on the file of the kidnapped Turkish nationals as saying that two 4x4 Cherokee jeeps holding the same number plate were used in the kidnapping operation, adding that the pilot and co-pilot were transferred to 2 different locations right after their abduction.                          

The same sources told Turkey’s state-run Anatolian news agency that the Turkish pilot is in Baalbek’s al-Sharawina neighborhood, and mentioned that the co-pilot was detained for a few days in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, and was later transferred on Thursday to Beirut’s Zawtar region.                  

• Berri: Beirut’s Roueis explosion may be more than just a message                  

House Speaker Nabih Berri told An-Nahar newspaper that he will be heading today (Tuesday) to the parliament to chair the legislative session, adding that he will defer it if quorum were not reached.

On another note, Berri expressed his concern over south Beirut’s Roueis explosion saying “it may be more than just a message”, calling on political and security officials to face this “terrorist plot” since "it’s not affecting one Lebanese party, but the entire Lebanese nation."   
       
As for the governmental file, Berri denied that he had agreed with the National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt on impeding efforts to form a new cabinet, adding that political parties haven’t yet agreed on a governmental formula.