Press Digest for Saturday October 12, 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.

• Ibrahim heads to Damascus, Ankara to discuss file of the Aazaz hostages                      

Sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that General Security chief, Major General Abbas Ibrahim proceeded with his visits, pointing out that he headed to Ankara and Damascus in a bid to reach a solution regarding the file of the Lebanese detainees in Aazaz.                   
The newspaper stated that Major General Ibrahim headed on Thursday evening to Turkey and returned to Lebanon on Friday afternoon whereby he spent few hours before going back to the Syrian capital Damascus.                

In the same context, Al-Joumhouria noted that Major General Ibrahim came back from Syria on Friday and went to Ankara where he held talks with officials regarding the release deal.                           
In the details, sources told the newspaper that the latter headed to Damascus to resolve an issue pertaining to the names of the women detained in Syria, emphasizing that the results were positive; urging him to visit Turkey at night.                     

• Minister Karami says political factions are halting Tripoli’s security plan               

Caretaker Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami said on Saturday that some political factions are attempting to foil the security plan in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.       

In this regard, Minister Karami told As-Safir newspaper that officials should take a political decision that aims at forcefully implementing the security measures in the city.                

• Minister Charbel: Tripoli’s security plan is ready                   

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel expressed on Saturday his concern over the latest security incidents that erupted in the Northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.                   

In this regard, Minister Charbel told As-Safir newspaper that the security plan is ready, but some political factions are hindering its implementation instead of facilitating it.                   

• Aoun to cooperate with those willing to build a Lebanese nation -sources         

Al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted on Saturday sources as saying that Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun said during a meeting held at Bet Mery  that "his allies are those who cooperate with him to build the Lebanese nation".        

The sources also quoted MP Aoun as saying “we are with the Resistance against Israel, and this issue may be a common point among all Lebanese citizens.”           

The sources added to the newspaper that MP Aoun stated that legislations should not be linked to political benefits, adding that parliamentary blocs should be dealt with without any political classifications.