Press Digest for Wednesday November 06, 2013

4^min

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.

Charbel: Rallies and demonstrations in Tripoli banned

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that he rejected the request presented by the Arab Democratic Party to stage a rally from Jabal Mohsen to al-Nour Square in Tripoli next Friday.

In a statement to an-Nahar Daily, Charbel said that staging protests in Jabal Mohsen or any other region of Tripoli will lead to unlimited repercussions, stressing that the authorities must prevent this critical situation from witnessing further chaos.

Refaat Eid: The state is legislating the "law of the jungle"

The Arab Democratic Party’s political affairs official Refaat Eid told as-Safir Daily that the demonstration scheduled for next Friday in Tripoli’s Jabal Mohsen has been cancelled, noting that the caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel’s refusal to authorize the movement means that the security apparatuses are unable to control the situation in the city of Tripoli.

In this context, Charbel said that “the government that is not capable of controlling or protecting a demonstration will definitely not be capable of protecting a sect,” pointing out that the state has been legislating the "law of the jungle".

“No one has the right to blame me if the situation in Jabal Mohsen spirals out of control,” he said.

However, Eid expressed his fear that a new round of clashes will breakout, leading to a civil war that will start in Tripoli and expand to reach other Lebanese regions.

Former ISF leader Maj. Gen. Rifi: Tensions remain high in Tripoli

Former Internal Security Forces head Major General Ashraf Rifi told as-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that tensions remain high in the northern city of Tripoli. He added that only the justice of the Lebanese judicial system will ease down the battles in the city, noting that residents of Jabal Mohsen neighborhood are under an embargo.

According to the Daily, Rifi called on the security apparatuses to bring Arab Democratic Party leader former MP Ali Eid to justice, slamming the party's alleged smuggle of the Tripoli twin blast perpetrators.

Speaker Berri: Current Lebanese political system only brings crisis, war and strife

Speaker Nabih Berri told as-Safir and al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the current Lebanese political system only brings crisis, war and strife, noting that the solution to the Syrian crisis can also be a solution for Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.

On another note, Speaker Berri slammed MP Fouad Siniora and the Future movement's linking the formation of the new government with Hezbollah's withdrawal from Syria. He also noted that the new government aims at dealing with Lebanon's pending problems, solving the Lebanese people daily issues and settling disputes between all Lebanese leaders.