Press digest for Saturday April 14, 2012

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.         

• Abu Faour: We cut off all ties with Syrian regime          

Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abu Faour told An-Nahar daily on Saturday that the debate on the electoral law pertains to the fate and the future of the country. He said that this law requires a consensus between parties inside the government and out.       

Abu Faour stressed that stances on the Syrian regime will not change, adding that the bloodshed and brutality in Syria cannot pass lightly.         

“We cut off all ties with the Syrian regime and we are not sorry”, he said.         

• Sheikh Al Assir intends to build religious compound in Sidon         

Al Akhbar daily reported that Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, the Imam of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque in Sidon, intends to start building a new religious compound near the city of Sidon, more particularly on the avenue of House Speaker Nabih Berri in Haret Saida.       

The newspaper added that al-Assir called on the Land Register in Sidon to exempt him from the construction fees. The complex is entitled “Bilal Bin Rabah” and will be built on the property number 1428, considering that this compound belongs to a charity.       

• Charbel: Investigations into Geagea’s assassination attempt ongoing to find perpetrators

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told Al Liwaa daily on Saturday that according to forensic evidence that determined the location from which bullets were fired on Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Meerab, the perpetrators shot 3 bullets at Geagea, not only two 12.7 bullets. One of them pierced the glass as the other 2 got stuck in the window’s wooden brow.         

Charbel said that investigations are ongoing “rapidly and very seriously” to find the perpetrators.         

Charbel said that discussions on the electoral law will be resumed during the first cabinet session held after the return of the president from Australia.        

• US military commander in Beirut        

Well-informed sources told Al Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that a U.S. military commander will arrive in Beirut in the next few days to discuss the LAF’s needs and to announce a prominent position centered on the support of the army.           

The sources that were briefed on the circumstances and program of the visit refused to reveal the identity of the commander. However, they pointed to his senior position in the U.S. Central Command.