Press Digest for Saturday August 16, 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.

• Hariri’s visit to Lebanon was positive – March 8 sources

March 8 ministerial sources reported on Saturday that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who visited Lebanon last week, agreed with officials on the necessity of activating the work of cabinet and other constitutional institutions in light of presidential vacuum.

The sources told Al-Hayat newspaper that the meetings held by Hariri in Lebanon were all positive, seemingly since the majority of officials he met consider that his return to Lebanon is positive.

• FPM official calls on Lebanese citizens to cooperate with security forces

Free Patriotic Movement official Ziad Abs told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Saturday that clashes that erupted in Arsal made Lebanese people more aware of the situation surrounding them, stressing that terrorists who targeted Lebanese Armed Forces in the northeastern border town were all residing in refugee camps.

In this regard, Abs called on all Lebanese citizens to cooperate with security forces, stressing that LAF soldiers are conducting raids to arrest terrorists after receiving calls pertaining to the suspicious activities of some Syrian refugees.

• Registered refugees have become a threat on Lebanon

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported on Saturday that Christians in Lebanon doubled their efforts and measures in various Lebanese regions after the clashes of members from the Islamic State with Lebanese Armed Forces in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The newspaper noted that Christians considered themselves the first target for IS fighter after knowing about the situation of Christians in Iraq and the circumstances they are passing through.

The newspaper also noted that Syrian refugees registered in Lebanon have become a threat for Christians who consider themselves a minority with respect to the Shiites or Sunnis in Lebanon.

In this regard, Asharq Al-Awsat pointed out that municipalities had to implement measures to follow up on the activity of refugees in order to prevent the occurrence of incidents similar to those that took place in Arsal.