Press Digest for Tuesday December 02, 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.

PM Salam says direct negotiations with abductors of Lebanese troops to be launched soon

Prime Minister Tammam Salam told An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that the efforts recently deployed by the crisis committee came to follow up on the Arsal abducted soldiers dossier, mainly after the latest threats launched by the abductors to kill one of the captive soldiers.

Salam also stressed that the direct negotiations with the abductors are about to be launched, adding that members of the crisis committee alongside General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim and security officials are following up on the issue.

He concluded by denying reports saying that General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim has withdrawn from the negotiations.

LF leader Geagea says he welcomes dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future movement

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told As-Safir newspaper that he welcomes the holding of any dialogue, mainly between Lebanon's Sunnites and Shiites amid the deteriorating security situation in the region.

He also hailed the scheduled dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future Movement, adding that common ground must be reached between Lebanon's different parties.

As for the suggestion submitted by Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun over the presidential elections, Geagea said that he supports such a suggestion, adding however that it is hard to be implemented.

LAF Intelligence Bureau arrests one of IS leader Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi's wives-sources

Sources told As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that the Lebanese Armed Forces Intelligence Bureau, with the coordination of foreign security services, arrested one of the Islamic State leader Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi's wives and one of his sons.

The sources added that al-Baghdadi's wife was arrested at one of the border crossings with Syria, noting that she was referred to the Ministry of Defense in the region of Yarzeh to launch investigations with her.

According to the daily, the military institution kept such information under wraps for security reasons.

British squad in Baalbek constructs a network of watchtowers-sources

Military source told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that the presence of a British squad along the border with Syria "is not a secret."

The sources added that the British squad is working at speed to construct a network of watchtowers along the border with Syria.

According to the daily, the sources stressed that there are no military British forces in Baalbek, adding that the British squad is formed of only technicians.