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.
French ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli told
As-Safir newspaper on Friday that the explosion that rocked the Iranian embassy “is a dangerous development,” noting that it sheds light on the spillover of the Syrian crisis into Lebanon.
The ambassador refused to link the explosion to Hezbollah’s intervention in the Syrian war, and said: “The terrorist operation targeted the Iranian embassy, not Hezbollah”.
He also voiced France’s concern over the travel of French nationals to fight in Syria, noting that his country has exerted efforts to combat extremists in Mali and does not support such extremism in Syria as well.
Separately, Paoli called on the Lebanese to be aware of impending hazards, urging them not to wait for a regional mediator in order to settle their political and economic problems.
“France calls for holding the parliamentary elections on their due time and the Lebanese people should form a new government and elect a President as per the constitution,” he added.
Sources close to the Presidency reported on Friday that "President Michel Sleiman has voiced a national stance while rejecting accusations against Saudi Arabia," noting that he does not accept to undermine relations between Lebanon and friend countries.
“It is better to uphold these relations, mainly since the Kingdom, as well as other Gulf states, has supported Lebanon in several occasions,” the sources said.
They told
Al-Liwaa daily that President Sleiman refuses to compromise historic relations between Lebanon and friend Arab states, mainly Saudi Arabia, adding that “the Kingdom has done nothing against Lebanon’s interests”.
Former head of Internal Security Forces (ISF) Major General Ashraf Rifi told
An-Nahar newspaper on Friday that the ongoing clashes in the northern city of Tripoli are "containable."
He also noted that he carried out contacts with the Lebanese Armed Forces and residents of Bab al-Tebbaneh to put an end for the battles.
This as sources told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday that Rifi is also contacting MP Saad Hariri, the LAF and Tripoli's dignitaries in order to restore peace and stability in the city.
Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam told
As-Safir newspaper on Friday that the formation of a new government reached a "deadlock" due to the local and regional crisis.
Salam also noted that the Lebanese political leaders, mainly March 8 alliance are hindering the formation process.
According to the Daily, Salam stressed that the Lebanese constitutions stipulates that the formation of a government is the duties of the Prime Minister-Designate and not the political leaders."