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 Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel told
al-Liwaa newspaper on
Wednesday that the Lebanese Armed Forces were deployed in Tripoli's Syria Street
which separates the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
He also noted that contacts are ongoing to complete the army's deployment in
the city, stressing that there are no obstacles hindering the implementation of
the security plan.
Caretaker Minister Charbel revealed to the Daily that he met with Salafist
clerics in Tripoli to put an end for the clashes in the northern city, adding
that the implementation of a plan to develop Tripoli will commence in the upcoming days.
Sources told
Al-Liwaa newspaper on Wednesday that President Michel Sleiman
and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam are adamant on forming the new
government before Independence Day.
Sources added that Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah suggested the
formation of the new cabinet on the basis of the 9-9-6 formula [9 ministers for
March 8, 9 ministers for March 14, and 6 centralist ministers] in a bid to
hinder efforts exerted by Salam and Sleiman to form a government.
The same sources added that Hezbollah is fully aware that the March 14 alliance
will reject the mentioned formula, considering that the party does not want the
government to be formed soon.
House Speaker Nabih Berri reported to his representatives at
the parliamentary committee tasked with studying the electoral law his stance regarding
the drafting of a new law and the upcoming parliamentary elections.
In this regard, Berri expressed via
An-Nahar newspaper his
adherence to a law that considers Lebanon as one electoral district or as
governorates on the basis of the proportionality law.
Berri added to the newspaper that he may shorten the extended
mandate of the parliament if a new electoral law were ratified before the end
of the year.
“If deputies agreed, the upcoming elections will be held in
March,” Berri said.
Sources reported to
An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that a
meeting was held on Tuesday at the Baabda palace between President Michel
Sleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Lebanese Armed Forces
General Commander, Major General Jean Kahwagi.
The sources mentioned that officials discussed the security
situation in Tripoli as well as the implementation of security measures in
the northern Lebanese city.
For his part, PM Mikati told
An-Nahar that Major General
Kahwagi was granted during the meeting the authority to implement tight
measures in the city in a bid to restore the security situation in it.