Press Digest for Friday October 25, 2013

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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.

Lebanon will take part in Geneva II peace talks

Well-informed diplomatic sources told as-Safir Daily that the Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati informed the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, during a meeting held last week in New York that Lebanon will take part in an international conference where regional parties will meet in an attempt to reach a solution to the bloodshed in Syria.

According to the same source, Mikati added that Lebanon is highly affected by the Syrian war, mainly by the issue of the Syrian refugees, making it compulsory to take part in any settlement that leads to a ceasefire and a political solution.

Siniora says will maintain contacts with Berri

The head of the Future bloc MP Fouad Siniora told an-Nahar Daily that he is keeping contacts with Speaker Nabih Berri despite the dispute that erupted between them during the latest parliamentary session over the legislative session’s agenda.

Siniora pointed out that he will continue holding meetings and contacts with all the political parties, especially amid the current situation.

In this context, sources close to Siniora told the newspaper that Speaker Berri rejected a proposal aiming at reaching a solution to the crisis through the Parliament’s committee, stressing that holding legislative sessions under a caretaker cabinet is a constitutional violation.

Baabda Palace security meeting: No political cover granted to armed groups in Tripoli

An-Nahar Daily reported that a security meeting was held yesterday (Thursday) at the Baabda Presidential Palace under the chairmanship of President Michel Sleiman and in the presence of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, the Lebanese Armed Forces Chief General Jean Qahwaji and the leaders of other security apparatuses.

The meeting mainly tackled the firm measures to be implemented in the northern city of Tripoli in order to put an end to the security chaos prevailing across the streets.

In this context, sources reported that Mikati told the conferees that all the political forces have vowed that the rival armed groups in Tripoli are deprived of any political cover, stressing that all the security forces operating in the city will be under the command of the army.

ISIL closely monitors UNIFIL amid growing concern- sources

Well-informed sources revealed to al-Akhbar Daily that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been closely monitoring the western forces operating in the South and represented by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon.

Sources on the ground stressed that concern is growing within the UNIFIL regarding “terrorist groups fighting in Syria”, adding that at least one thousand fighters of French, German and Italian origin are serving in Syria, raising concern over the possibility that these men may implement attacks against the international forces, according to the daily.