Press Digest for Tuesday August 19, 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.

PSP leader MP Jumblatt: Only national unity will save Lebanon from threats posed by Islamic State

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt reiterated on Tuesday his call for the swift election of a new president for the country.

He also noted that only national unity would save Lebanon from the imminent dangers posed by the Islamic State.

Jumblatt's comments were made to As-Safir newspaper whereby he called on the Lebanese lawmakers to put all their political disputes aside and to find a common ground over the presidential elections.

Minister Bou Saab says adamant on giving passing certificates to students

Minister of Education Elias Bou Saab told al-Hayat newspaper on Tuesday that he will not backtrack on his decision to grant passing certificates for all the students who sat for the official exams.

For his part, the head of the Private Schools Teachers Association Nehme Mahfoud told the daily that such a decision does not fall in the interest of the students, adding that the Union Coordination Committee will issue a final decision today (Tuesday) in this regard.

Security plan is still being implemented across Lebanon - military sources

Military sources told Acharq al-Awsat newspaper on Tuesday that tight security measures are still being imposed across all Lebanese regions and not only near the Syrian refugee tented settlements.

The same sources stressed the importance of the unity of the Lebanese people in regards to the military institution and the security apparatuses.

Similarly, sources in the Ministry of Interior told the daily that the implementation of the security plan is still effective across the Lebanese regions.

Berri slams UN over its silence on the Islamic State's threats-sources

Visitors of Speaker Nabih Berri quoted him as saying on Tuesday that the Islamic State poses great danger on the region in general, and on Lebanon in particular.

The same sources told An-Nahar newspaper that Berri called on all Lebanese political leaders to address such dangers by holding onto national unity and embracing the security apparatuses.

Berri also voiced regrets that the United Nations remained silent in the face of the Islamic State's threats.