Press Digest for Monday August 11, 2014

3^min

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.

Army troops spared Lebanon deadly sectarian strife - LAF chief

"The release of soldiers who were abducted in Arsal is our priority," Lebanese Armed Forces chief Jean Qahwaji told As-Safir daily on Monday.

This matter cannot be delayed, Qahwaji said, noting that he has briefed scholars, political leaderships and all the concerned authorities about this issue.

"We are adamant on the release of the Lebanese captives at any price," he said, adding that the army spared the country a deadly sectarian strife as it fought gunmen in the border town of Arsal.

Al-Akhbar: Lebanon's new Grand Mufti had secretly visited Damascus

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday that the Dar al-Fatwa crisis ended with the election of a new Grand Mufti, noting that Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan was elected as Lebanon's Grand Mufti through a regional settlement.

"Daryan had secretly visited Damascus," the daily said, pointing out that he has links with Syria.

"Daryan had reportedly visited Syria's Grand Mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun a few months ago, and held several meetings with Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali," the newspaper added.

LAF Command keen on the release Lebanese captives- sources

Sources with knowledge of contacts being held to release the Lebanese captives said on Monday that the Army Command has remained in indirect contact with negotiators.

The military is adamant on the release of the captives, the same sources told As-Safir daily, noting that contacts held so far did not yield positive results due to logistical difficulties in terms of communicating with gunmen.

Nonetheless, the mediators will continue to exert efforts in this regard, the sources said, adding that negotiations are unlikely to be trouble-free.

March 14 official, Nawfal Daou, survived car theft attempt, not armed ambush -source

Gunmen on board an SUV intercepted on Saturday the vehicle of March 14 General Secretariat member Nawfal Daou on the Majdaloun road in the Bekaa.

A security official told Al-Akhbar newspaper that the gunmen attempted to steal Daou's vehicle, and denied it was an armed ambush.

"Preliminary investigations revealed the identity of the perpetrators," the official said, adding that they are fugitives wanted on car theft charges.