Press Digest for Tuesday February 17, 2015

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.

Minister Rifi says security forces thwarted a plot to kill Samaha

Minister of Justice Achraf Rifi told al-Liwaa newspaper on Tuesday that the security forces have thwarted a plan to assassinate former Minister of Information Michel Samaha who has been indicted in a series of terrorist plots.

Rifi added that that the military prosecutor had recently granted Samaha the right to be transferred to hospital for medical treatment.

He said that he interfered after "a highly credible security agency" obtained information that Samaha could be assassinated during the transfer for having dangerous information on the Syrian regime.

Minister Rifi noted that he told Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq about the plot as soon as he was informed by the security agency.

Minister Jreij says PM Salam is deploying efforts to solve the country’s pending issues

Minister of Information Ramzi Jreij told al-Liwaa newspaper on Tuesday that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is holding contacts with all political leaders to discuss the country’s pending issues.

He also noted that Salam is deploying his efforts to activate the work of the government and to ensure the holding of the presidential election.

Jreij concluded by saying that the Lebanese constitution does not allow the the formation of “any mini-government.”

Russian envoy says dialogue between Lebanon factions is “necessary”

Russian ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin told An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that the dialogue among the Lebanese factions is “necessary” to address the current challenges and dangers facing the country.

On another note, the Russian envoy said that a common ground should be reached over the presidential vacuum.

He concluded by calling for activating contacts between the Christian leaders of the country to elect a new president.

Fatfat says Hezbollah’s Nasrallah is not thinking of Lebanon

Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah "is thinking only of the region and regional wars, but never of Lebanon."

“We talk about a state, but Nasrallah talks about no state,” Fatfat said.

On another note, Fatfat noted that the dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future Movement is not “a waste of time.”

“If we can ease down sectarian tensions, then why not?” Fatfat added.