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 Najib Mikati told
Al-Hayat daily that he will not convene for a cabinet session before a plan that will activate the government’s work is devised. “The cabinet’s work can no longer be obstructed and administrative appointments, along with other pending issues, must be settled”, Mikati said.
Ministerial and political sources reported that by suspending meetings, the cabinet’s deadlines will not be met and it will be spared a number of disputes. One of the disputes is whether to call on Syrian authorities to deploy their troops in the Bekaa and Akkar under the pretext that Syrian refugees may “embrace” the Free Syrian Army.
Mikati’s sources, for their part, ruled out the link between the suspension and these deadlines, adding that the deployment of the army does not require a new governmental decision. A decision was taken several years ago entrusting the army with the task of securing Lebanese soil and resorting to the ISF, if ever needed.
The same sources noted that the Higher Defense Council that held a session three weeks ago chaired by President Michel Sleiman, assigned the LAF to protect the borders. Other ministerial sources stressed that by suspending sessions, the cabinet will be spared another controversial deadline: renewing the STL protocol. However, different ministerial sources said that this issue falls under the prerogative of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, reiterating that the cabinet only holds a consultative role.
Free Syrian Army Deputy Commander Colonel Malek Al Kurdy told
Acharq al Awsat that military operations will see an escalation in retaliation to the massacre of Al-Khalidiya neighborhood.
“We took this oath upon ourselves and we promised Syrian citizens that we will fight until the regime is toppled. Here we are assuming this task and we are always seeking to develop our military force by searching for new sources that will provide us with weapons”, Al Kurdy said.
Al Kurdy added that the massacre committed by the Syrian regime in Homs and all other military operations against the Syrian people during the last days, clearly show that Russia’s VETO is a deception of the Syrians.
Al-Kurdy stressed that the FSA attacked strategic military posts of the Syrian regime such as the air intelligence headquarters. The rebel leader added that the FSA is destroying the regime’s military vehicles on a daily basis and has scored a success yesterday by destroying 3 tanks at the portal of Al Khalidiya and Homs.
Western sources told
Acharq al Awsat daily that an agreement was reached between the U.S. and Russia prior to the U.N. Security Council session on Saturday.
The agreement was that member countries will vote in favor of the Arab-Western draft law against Syrian President Bashar Assad with the prior knowledge that it will be vetoed, which was exactly what happened.
The same sources stressed the agreement stipulated that Russia will be allowed to veto the draft under the condition that it will be given the opportunity to convince the Syrian leadership to fully implement the Arab initiative including the clause related to transfer of power.
According to the sources, in case the Russian attempts fail, Washington will once again put the same draft law up to a vote within the UNSC and Russia will vow to refrain from voting against it.