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.
Head of the Public Works Parliamentary Committee MP Mohammad Qabbani stressed that the measures taken in a bid to prevent the disasters expected to result from the storm, “may not be enough to reassure the citizens.”
In a statement to
al-Liwaa Daily, Qabbani said that the government implemented all types of measures, including raising the citizens’ awareness and giving them guidelines on how to act during the storm.
He added that the municipalities have prepared themselves according to their capabilities, while the Internal Security Forces are standing on alert, noting however, that some citizens always try to act recklessly.
Senior political sources from March 8 camp told
al-Akhbar Daily that President Michel Sleiman seeks to keep the state of paralysis, and to prevent the caretaker cabinet from carrying out its caretaking duties.
In this context, the sources added that the president will not form a new cabinet as long as he still has hope in reaching a deal to extend his mandate, explaining that once he loses this hope, he will form a fait accompli cabinet, which will take over the presidential prerogatives in case of void.
Accordingly, the same sources said that Sleiman is attempting to prevent any cabinet session from being held, “because he considers that such sessions are a point of strength for March 8 forces who are rejecting any extension for the president’s mandate.”
Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan considered on Wednesday that the presidential entitlement file tops all other dossiers, calling on Lebanese parties to exert efforts to hold the presidential elections on their due date.
Adwan told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the mentioned goal is not difficult to be achieved as long as deputies attend the session to elect a new president in order to prevent void at the presidential level.
"Those who will not attend the session, will be breaching the constitution and contributing to void," Adwan said.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper said on Wednesday that Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta will be arriving to Lebanon next Saturday to meet with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The newspaper added that the Italian official will also meet with families of the Syrian and Palestinian refugees and will head to south Lebanon to visit his country's troops deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Sources reported on Wednesday that cabinet sessions will not be held seemingly since Lebanese President Michel Sleiman considered that there is no need to hold these sessions.
In this regard, governmental sources reported to
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati disregarded this file, and mentioned that he will no longer discuss it.