Press Digest for Tuesday January 13, 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.

• Minister Mashnouq says national cohesion key for stability in Lebanon

Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq stated on Tuesday that prisoners at Roumieh’s Bloc B were all transported to a new building, adding that the said building will undergo a complete rehabilitation process before inmates are allowed back into their cells.

Minister Mashnouq stressed via As-Safir newspaper the necessity of proceeding with measures at the prison, pointing out that security forces will focus on the Roumieh penitentiary in order to prevent the occurrence of violations.

He also emphasized the importance of providing $60 million to implement new plans and measures at all prisons across Lebanon, pointing out that the cabinet should offer half this amount seemingly since he will be able to collect the other half from internal and foreign ties and relations.

Minister Mashnouq also stressed that national cohesion is key to confront terrorism in Lebanon, adding that dialogue sessions between Hezbollah and the Future Movement should not be halted.

• French, Iranian officials discuss Lebanese presidential elections

Al-Joumhouria newspaper stated on Tuesday that Iran's Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hussein Amir Abdallahaan received his French counterpart Francois Giraud and tackled with him the situation in Lebanon as well as the Hezbollah-Future dialogue which was lauded by Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In this regard, sources told the newspaper that the two officials discussed the presidential elections in Lebanon, pointing out that Iranians will not address this matter with Lebanese officials.

• Jabal Mohsen’s bomber moved from Ain El-Helweh to north Lebanon - Sources

Security sources reported to Al-Akhbar newspaper that progress was made in the dossier of Tripoli’s Jabal Mohsen attack.

In this regard, the sources pointed out that the geographic movement of the cell phone used by the suicide bomber Taha Samir Kayyal showed that he was moving from the Ain El-Helweh refugee camp to north Lebanon.

The sources also emphasized that there used to be a certain relation between the suicide bombers and fugitive Chady Mawlawi.