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.
MP Ghazi Youssef told
Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the Free Patriotic Movement led by General Michel Aoun will try to take full control of the communication sector in Lebanon which is fully controlled by the state, adding that the Aounist infiltration in the government institution became more than obvious and should be stopped.
Youssef revealed that the Free Patriotic Movement has formed specialized committees that will issue strategic plans leading the FPM to its main goals.
“They started taking over the state in 2008, they want to occupy vital positions that will allow them to take full control of these institutions”, Al-Mustaqbal quoted Youssef as saying.
Al-Liwaa newspaper reported that Shiites leader and figures from Amal Movement, the Higher Shiite Council and Imam Moussa Sadr relatives did not comment on the latest statements of the Libyan National Council claiming that Imam Sadr died in 1998.
Shiite sources told the newspaper that what has been revealed by the LNC needs further investigations especially that the post Gaddafi era was a very confusing and misleading period, adding that the Lebanese delegation to Libya in charge investigating Imam Sadr’s case are studying the information received.
The sources added that Lebanese officials held talks to discuss Sadr’s death but preferred to wait for diplomatic and reliable sources from Libya to confirm the news before taking any action or stance.
According to
Al-Liwaa newspaper, PM Najib Mikati refused to sign any decree related to the wage adjustment issue if it is not similar to the agreement previously reached separating the transportation allowances from the salary.
Prior to the cabinet meeting that was held on Wednesday Mikati revealed that there was no AL-Qaeda militants in Lebanon or extremist groups, adding that the contradicting information between the Minister of Defense and the Interior Minister were simply different point of views.
Mikati praised Speaker Nabih Berri’s step who called for a general parliament session if the cabinet fails to issue a draft law regarding Lebanon’s offshore resources, mentioning that Berri was always helped the government to achieve its goals.
Governmental sources to
Acharq al-Awsat newspaper that the Lebanese Armed Forces will start its investigation to reveal the identity of the shooters in Akkar on Tuesday. The shootings at Wadi Khaled-Akkar caused the death of three Lebanese citizens and their car was found hit by 34 bullets.
The LAF told the newspaper that a committee has been formed to investigate the shooting incident causing the death of 3 citizens, adding that the committee started gathering information to draw the crime scene.
Asked about a permanent deployment if the Lebanese Armed Forces on the Northern border the sources revealed that it is from the LAF duties to patrol these areas but the Lebanese-Syrian border in the North cannot be fully controlled as it a vast area.
Future Party member MP Mohammad Qabbani told
Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun’s daily campaign against the Future Party is irrelevant as the latter is constantly attacking everyone around him to cover the acts of his son in law Gebran Bassil.
Asked about the purpose behind the Minister of Defense’s statement about Al-Qaeda militants in Lebanon and the timing of Damascus blasts, Qabbani said “the timing and the purposes are suspicious”
“I believe he was asked to say so and no one can hide that the blasts occurred two days after Ghosn’s statement, shouldn’t we raise question in this case?”
On the other hand Qabbani mentioned that the current government is nothing but a Syrian tool and it will stay in power as long as the current Syrian regime needs it.