Press Digest for Tuesday December 09, 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.

• Grand Mufti Daryan says leaders must find swift solutions to Arsal abducted soldiers case

Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Daryan told As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that the Muslim Scholars Association submitted to him a suggestion related to the file of the Arsal abducted soldiers.

Mufti Daryan noted that he will, in turn, submit the proposal to Prime Minister Tammam Salam and the crisis committee that is following up on the issue.

He also reiterated his fill support to the families of the kidnapped troops, stressing the need to find a swift solution to the case.
 

• Qatar’s decision to end Arsal hostage efforts is not “surprising”-sources

Sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that Qatar’s decision to end its efforts in the Arsal hostage file did not come as a surprise to several security and ministerial officials.

The same sources added that the Qatari mediator failed to take from the abductors guarantees to stop the execution of captive soldiers.

According to the daily, the mediation efforts had already come to an end since three weeks when the Qatari mediator left Lebanon to Doha without having achieved any progress in the case.

• ISF and LAF coordinate efforts to ensure the release of Arsal abducted soldiers-sources

Military sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that the Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces are coordinating their efforts to find a solution for the Arsal kidnapped soldiers’ case.

The same sources added that some sides are trying to create a rift between Lebanon’s security apparatuses.

According to the daily, the sources slammed reports stating that the military institution abandoned the case of the kidnapped troops, stressing that the Lebanese army is deploying its utmost efforts to ensure the release of the troops.

• Crisis committee is failing to manage Arsal abducted soldiers case-sources

Sources told al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that the crisis committee’s mismanagement of the Arsal abducted soldiers case is the reason behind the deadlock in the issue.

The same sources added that the troops abducted by the al-Nusra Front are now under the authority of the group’s leader and Emir in Lebanon Abou Mohammad al-Golani, while the soldiers kidnapped by the Islamic State are now in the hands of the newly assigned Emir in Lebanon Abdel Salam al-Ordoni after having been under the authority of Abou Talal al-Hamad.