Press Digest for Thursday November 21, 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.

Team of Iranian investigators arrive to Beirut - Sources

Al-Joumhouria Daily reported that a team of Iranian detectives arrived to Beirut in order to take part in the investigations conducted by the Lebanese security apparatuses, adding that the Iranian detectives will be provided with the available information concerning the attacks.

In this context, well-informed sources said that the Iranian embassy in Beirut submitted to the Lebanese Armed Forces Intelligence footages from the building’s surveillance cameras, in order to unveil the identities of the suicide bombers.

Meanwhile, the sources added that the State Prosecutor Samir Hammoud and the State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr had held a meeting to follow up on the latest developments concerning the investigations.

Fatfat stresses need to unite to serve country’s best interest

MP Ahmad Fatfat said that all the Lebanese political parties must unite in order to serve the best interest of the country, stressing the need to dissociate Lebanon from the regional wars in accordance with the Baabda Declaration.

Fatfat told al-Liwaa Newspaper that “the other team should prove that it is taking into consideration the national interest and take a step forward in this regard,” pointing out that March 14 forces have been prepared to unite.

On another note, the MP said that the attack that targeted the Iranian embassy in Beirut is “a military operation that has a clear political goal,” noting that Lebanon has entered a new phase of military operations.

“We are no longer witnessing explosions aiming at threatening people, but we are facing organized and well-planned operations implemented according to the regional developments,” he said.

Speaker Berri to visit Tehran following Independence Day- sources

Sources told Al-Joumhouria daily on Thursday that Speaker Nabih Berri will visit Tehran after the Independence Day, upon the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani, in order to hold discussions with senior Iranian officials.

Talks will feature high on the situation in Lebanon and the region in light of the twin blasts that targeted the Iranian embassy in Beirut on Tuesday, November 19.

Officials will also tackle the developments of the Syrian crisis as well as negotiations being held to settle the Iranian nuclear file.

President Sleiman to deliver a speech on Independence Day- sources

Well-informed sources told al-Liwaa on Thursday that the speech to be delivered by President Michel Sleiman on the Independence Day will highlight the need to resume dialogue and to abide by the Baabda Declaration.

President Sleiman will call on the Lebanese people to be united and will discuss the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, the sources said. He will also tackle the stalled cabinet formation process and underscore the need to cooperate in order to form a new cabinet that shall be able to deal with urgent issues.