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.
Caretaker Interior Minister
Marwan Charbel revealed that the investigations conducted in the case of the
explosions that targeted the northern city of Tripoli on Friday, have reached advanced
levels, as the identity of the owner of the Dodge vehicle that exploded near
al-Salam mosque was unveiled. He noted that the concerned authorities are
now probing into the movement of the vehicle during the hours that preceded its
explosion.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria Daily, Charbel denied reports quoting him as saying that the man
who was driving the vehicle and parked it outside al-Salam mosque had been identified,
hoping that the media outlets would seek accuracy in reporting his statements.
Answering a question
concerning the detainee Sheikh Ahmad Gharib, Charbel said that he is not
concerned with the judiciary’s pending files, stressing that the judicial
authorities have the final decision regarding the arrests and mechanisms
adopted.
As-Safir Daily quoted
sources close to President Michel Sleiman as saying that the latter launched
during his latest speech delivered on Saturday evening, a rational stance over the current situation prevailing over the country
noting that he will continue deploying efforts in the cabinet formation
process.
The sources added that the final executive decision in this matter does not depend on Sleiman alone, but such a case requires a joint responsibility assumed by all the Lebanese political parties.
Sources close to Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam
stressed that the meeting held between Salam and President Michel Sleiman on Sunday propelled the consultations concerning the cabinet formation.
The sources told
al-Joumhouria Newspaper that Salam’s
priorities are the resumption of contacts with forces from the March 8 camp, mainly
with Speaker Nabih Berri and the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party MP
Walid Jumblatt.
The same sources denied that Salam met with Berri, stressing
that the last contact between the two parties was when Berri called Salam to
offer condolences over the death of Tripoli blasts’ victims, where they
discussed the security and political situations as well as the latest developments
in the cabinet formation process.
Member of the Change and Reform bloc MP Ghassan Moukheiber
stressed that the call launched by President Michel Sleiman to resume dialogue and
to commit to the Baabda Declaration are a roadmap leading Lebanon out of the
current deadlock, noting that only the Lebanese Armed Forces and the other
security apparatuses can impose security across the country, in cooperation
with the towns’ municipalities if needed.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria Daily, Moukheiber hoped that the March 14 forces will agree with the
proposal of forming a national unity government, which is the most appropriate
solution to prevent chaos in the streets, pointing out that Hezbollah’s expulsion
from the next cabinet cannot be decided by one party but must be discussed by
all the Lebanese political powers within the framework of a meeting.