Press Digest for Monday April 16, 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.  

• Syrian regime not pleased with Sleiman’s request to investigate Shaaban’s death

Al-Hayat daily quoted March 8 ministerial sources as saying that state officials have been officially briefed on the Syrian regime’s dismay over stances taken by both the president and prime minister. The sources said that this is due to the President’s request to reveal all ins and outs pertaining to the incident that led to the death of Al-Jadeed TV cameraman Ali Shaaban.

According to the sources, the Syrian regime was not pleased when President Sleiman urged the Syrian side to carry out all needed investigations to determine who was behind the killing and prevent the repetition of a similar incident in the future.

PM Najib Mikati also decried the Syrian side for shooting at the Lebanese TV news crew, adding that the team was working within Lebanese borders. Mikati asked the Lebanese army leadership to immediately open an investigation to uncover the truth.   

The sources were also cited as saying that Secretary General of the Higher Lebanese Syrian Council Nasri Khoury conveyed to Lebanese authorities an official Syrian letter. The letter confirmed that each side is investigating into the shooting incident to determine whose responsibility it is.

The sources quoted Khoury as saying that, following inspections carried out on the site of the shooting, Syrian authorities urged Lebanese authorities to carry out a laboratory investigation. Such an investigation will determine whether the bullets used were all of one caliber or their calibers varied, in reference to the possibility of having used more than one type of weapons. 

• Syrian dissident general: Hezbollah members executing those who violate instructions    

A Syrian air force dissident general revealed to Al-Rai Kuwaiti daily that documents proving that Iran is sending weapons to the Syrian regime exist. The dissident officer said that the documents also prove that Rebels’ leader in North Yemen Abdul Malek Al Houthy sent 22 fighters to participate in the battles of Jesr el Shoughour and Mehrat al Nehman.

According to the general, Hezbollah members are executing every officer who refuses to implement instructions.   Syrian sources in Istanbul said that Iranians in a Gulf country revealed accurate details that will help Syrian security apparatuses decode symbols used by the Syrian opposition and dissidents through satellite devices.  

The sources told Syria news website that the Assad regime disrupted contacts made by the opposition from Syria and hindered their attempts to establish contact with the press outside Syrian soil.