Press Digest for Saturday March 29, 2014

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.

• Fatfat: Tripoli security plan seems effective

Member of the Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat expressed his “wary optimism” concerning the security plan approved by the cabinet, noting that the decisions that were taken during the session seemed serious.

In a statement to al-Joumhouria Daily, Fatfat said that these decisions include the seizure of weapons depots, which is considered an essential step toward turning Tripoli into a demilitarized city.  

• Sleiman offended by recent statements of Patriarch Rai – Sources

Al-Akhbar Newspaper reported that the latest interview conducted with Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai via LBCI, was resented by President Michel Sleiman and other Maronite figures, “since he has surpassed the norms in what concerns the state’s secrets.”

The daily explained that Rai revealed during the interview “the content of a discussion held with the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.”

On another note, the sources criticized Rai’s intention to conduct public referendum on the presidential candidates.

• Bab al-Tebbaneh commander: We will commit to decisions taken by Muslim Scholars

A commander in Tripoli’s Bab al-Tebbaneh Saad al-Masri said that the positions in Tripoli are not individual, but are usually issued following an agreement between the Muslim Scholars, stressing that, in Bab al-Tebbaneh, “they will always commit to the decisions of the scholars.”

In a statement to al-Joumhouria Daily, al-Masri said that the residents of Bab al-Tebbaneh require to be informed of the content of the security plan, pointing out that he has not yet seen any sign proving the implementation of the said plan in the city.    

• Maronite leaders' meeting aims at exerting pressure on some parties – Sources

The spokesperson of the Maronite Patriarchate, Walid Ghayyad stressed that the meeting of the Maronite leaders aims at exerting pressure on Speaker Nabih Berri, in order for him to call for a parliamentary session to elect a new president as soon as possible, and on the deputies to assume their responsibilities.

In a statement to al-Joumhouria Daily, Ghayyad said that the meeting was positive, revealing that the Maronite leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring a quorum for the parliamentary session to elect a president, noting that the conferees did not tackle the names of the candidates during their meeting.