Press Digest for Saturday March 21, 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.

Sources say ‘secret’ mediator communicating with Maj. Gen. Ibrahim over kidnapped troops

Sources with knowledge of the Arsal captives dossier told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that "things are on the right track," saying “a progress has been made in negotiations with the Nusra Front”.

“The list of demands the militant group had submitted to General Security Chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim is still being considered,” the sources said, noting that several names included in the list are now revealed.

“The list includes 40 detainees held by the Lebanese authorities and 20 prisoners in Syrian jails,” the sources said, adding “a ‘secret’ mediator is currently in Arsal’s barren range and is communicating, on a daily basis, with Abbas Ibrahim”.

Lebanon’s Mashnouq to revive security cooperation with Washington

Sources close to Lebanon's Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq said on Saturday that the latter’s expected visit to the United States, following his return from Riyadh, will be highly important on the political and security levels.

In an interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper, the sources noted that the agenda includes meetings with U.S. political, security and military figures, adding “talks will be featuring high on the means to revive bilateral security cooperation, more specifically counter-terrorism efforts”.

MP Siniora to testify before STL next week

Well-informed sources said on Saturday that “the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will enter, as of next week, a landmark phase” with former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora set to testify before the tribunal.

MP Siniora is due to testify about the political context in Lebanon prior to the assassination of his close friend, late former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“Both prosecution and defense teams are being prepared to keep pace with the testimony of MP Siniora,” the same sources told Al-Joumhouria daily, adding “the importance of testimonies heard thus far before the STL won’t be downplayed”.