Press Digest for Friday February 14, 2014

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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.

Caretaker Minister Abou Faour says new cabinet will soon be formed

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour told As-Safir daily on Friday that a new government will soon be formed as a result of the latest efforts, hoping that the cabinet will pave the way for understanding in Lebanon.

Abou Faour also hoped that this understanding will have a positive impact on the upcoming entitlements, mainly that of the presidential elections, and will maintain security in the country.

Former PM Hariri will focus on the concepts of justice, moderation- sources

Sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will focus, on the ninth anniversary of Hariri's assassination, on the concepts of justice, represented by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and moderation in light of widespread extremism.

The daily said Hariri will shed light on the notion of justice since stability cannot be maintained without it, noting that the STL not only aims to end the continuous political assassinations but also aims to restore stability on the social, political and security levels.

Former PM Hariri will also tackle the reasons which compelled him to participate in the new government, while remaining adamant on holding the presidential elections on their constitutional time.

LAF chief Qahwaji says Orientation Directorate to reveal details of investigations with Naim Abbas

“Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed that information on investigations with detainee Naim Abbas will be revealed by him in person or by the Army Orientation Directorate,” official sources told Al-Hayat newspaper on Friday.

Qahwaji’s comments were made during Thursday’s security meeting held at the Presidential Palace, in response to questions about the said investigations.

Detainee Naim Abbas constitutes a link between Jabhat al-Nusra, ISIL- source

A security source told As-Safir newspaper that detainee Naim Abbas was “the technical, operational mastermind” and had been consistently changing his look and his whereabouts.

The source said investigators are dealing with well-trained and highly professional parties, noting that Abbas’ confessions should be followed by accurate security investigations, since the detainee was planning for a deadly attack on Sunday.

Sources also said that “terrorist Naim Abbas had constituted a link between Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," adding that he lately held several meetings with them at the Ain El-Helwe refugee camp.