Press Digest for Friday November 07, 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.

MP Fatfat calls for the swift election of a new president

Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told al-Anbaa newspaper on Friday that the extension of the parliament's mandate saved the country from a parliamentary vacuum.

Fatfat deemed the extension of the parliament's mandate as "an undemocratic step," noting however that it prevented the country from "heading toward the unknown."

He concluded by stressing that the next step would be the election of a new president for the country.

Berri says extension of parliament's mandate "is the right choice"-sources

Sources quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as saying on Friday that the extension of the parliament's mandate "is the right choice for this particular phase."

The same sources told As-Safir newspaper that Berri voiced regret over the Free Patriotic Movement's absence during Wednesday's parliamentary session.

According to the daily, Berri noted that the parliament's top priority is currently the election of a new president and the drafting of a new electoral law.

Interrogations with Ahmad Mikati continue-security source

Well informed security source told As-Safir newspaper on Friday that the terrorist suspect Ahmad Salim Mikati revealed important information during interrogations.

The same source added that Mikati revealed that he was planning with Chadi al-Mawlawi and Oussama Mansour to carry out attacks on Lebanese army posts in the Dinniyeh region villages of Asoun and Bakhoun, as well as terrorist attacks in Akkar, Beirut and Sidon regions.

Mikati also confessed that he was planning to call on the Sunnite Lebanese army soldiers to defect from the army and join terrorist organizations.

According to the daily, the terrorist suspect also confessed of contacting fugitive Salafist cleric Ahmad al-Assir.

Qatari delegation to return to Beirut today-ministerial sources

Ministerial sources quoted on Friday Prime Minister Tammam Salam as saying that the negotiations in the case of the abducted Lebanese troops in the border town of Arsal "are difficult and complicated."

The same sources told al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the Qatari delegation will return to Beirut on Friday (today) to continue its mediation efforts.