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.
The member of the Future bloc’s political office and Tripoli’s coordinator former MP Mustafa Alloush told
Acharq al Awsat daily that the Hariri’s speech during Tripoli’s festival will mark a new beginning for Lebanon.
“Former PM Saad Hariri’s words will be decisive especially following the developments over the past two weeks”, Alloush said.
The newspaper quoted Alloush as saying that the row amongst ministers shows that the cabinet is not in harmony. Alloush stressed that the current government’s sole purpose was to topple Hariri’s cabinet and shun March 14 parties from power to serve the interests of Hezbollah and the Syrian regime.
State Minister Ali Qanso told
Acharq Al Awsat daily that the stances taken by Arab states regarding the Syrian regime are a clear sign that the U.S.and its western allies are exerting pressures against Syria. “By taking a decision that harms the vibrant heart of Arabism, the Arab League has betrayed its Arab identity”, Qanso said.
Qanso stressed that the Arab League has become known for taking these stances at similar junctures. “The Arab League is turning its back on Syria today just as it did a few years back, on the blockade imposed on Gaza Strip and the Israeli war against Lebanon in 2006, writing-off Palestine from its list of interests”, Qanso added.
Qanso said that policies and sanctions targeting Syria will be to no avail, since in the past they have tried and failed to tighten the screws against the Syrian regime.
Well-informed sources reported that the security situation in the borders town of Talkalakh is deteriorating and armed groups came from Lebanon and installed barricades at the entrance of some neighborhoods. The armed groups also burned the security forces’ cars and shot a bus passing through “Abou Arab” square killing a woman and her child and wounding the driver.
A security source told the Syrian daily
Al Watan that the specialized security forces arrested eight dangerous gunmen in Talkalakh and Ruston. The sources were quoted as saying that, during a clash with armed groups, the specialized authorities killed gunman Mohammad Imad Machalji and arrested seven wanted people. The sources stressed that amongst the people detained is Najib Mohammad Al Ali, one of the orchestrators of the armed assault that targeted the army and the security forces in Jabal Al Zawiya.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa that Bahrain is determined to implement the recommendations of the Bahraini independent Commission of Inquiry in a clear, transparent and bold way. According to
Al-Hayat daily, Khalid called on all Bahrainis, whether Shiites or Sunnis, to engage in a dialogue and to implement the commission’s recommendations.
Khalid told Al-Hayat that principles but forth by Crown Prince are still tabled and have been even before the recent incidents, adding that Iran is interfering in the affairs of other Arab states such as Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.
Speaking on Syria, Sheikh Khalid said: “Unfortunately, the Syrian regime did not sign the Arab League’s initiative and in reality we do not know what will happen next.”
Al Seyassah al Kuweiti newspaper reported that the British Foreign Ministry is looking into the possibility of launching an appeal to its diaspora living in Lebanon to leave the country immediately. The UK might be contemplating this idea following the confirmation of western sources in Beirut, Damascus, Tel Aviv and Jordan that Syria and Lebanon are on the verge of the abyss and risk sliding into a bloodier, more dramatic course than that of the Lebanese civil war.
British diplomats told the newspaper that all foreigners residing in Lebanon will evacuate the country, which is under the mercy of Syria and its allies, within two weeks. The sources added that the borders between Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel are currently experiencing what is called “the calm before the storm”. The sources stressed that the Turkish army mobilized three contingents on the borders and another one in the Turkish part of Cypriot to be logistically prepared for the implementation of Arab resolutions.
For its part, Israel also deployed several contingents along its border with Lebanon and two other on the Golan Heights. Hezbollah, on the other hand, is pulling its rockets and missiles from their hide-outs as if a war was lurking on the horizon. The sources regarded the explosion of missile storage in the surroundings of Siddiqin on Tuesday as the result of a slight miscalculation.
The diplomatic sources quoted reports drafted by European Intelligence members from Beirut and Damascus last Wednesday as aying that over 150 Iranian missile experts have landed in Syria’s military airport, South of Damascus and they will be later on carried by Hezbollah buses to the Bekaa.
The source also stressed that the end of Syrian President Bashar Assad will soon fall, taking with him Hezbollah and the Iranian regime. The diplomat added that Mikati’s cabinet will soon collapse and will not even be able to prevent funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.