Press Digest for Wednesday April 18, 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.                           

• Mikati agrees on a price ceiling of 30,000 LBP for gasoline  

As-Safir daily quoted the head of the Land Transportation Union BassamTleiss as saying that during PM NajibMikati’s Tuesday meeting with a delegation of the Land Transportation Syndicates and Unions, the latter has agreed in principle on setting a price ceiling of 30,000 LBP for gasoline of which only public drivers will benefit, excluding the rest of the Lebanese people.

Mikati’s position is based on the consideration that public drivers are carrying out public services. Mikati tasked Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi with conducting a study of the subsidies for the gasoline. He also agreed during the meeting to equal public drivers to those registered in the Social Security National Fund in terms of facilities.    

• Nahhas to bakeries delegation: your strike will not be a problem  

As-Safir daily learned on Wednesday that discussions between Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas and the head of the Union of Bakeries, Kazem Ibrahim, were marked by intensity as Nahhas asked the bakeries’ delegation to grant him time until he tables the proposed solutions during the Friday cabinet session.

The delegation rejected Nahhas’ request on the grounds that the issue is heading towards further procrastination prompting Nahhas to say: “your strike, [whether] for one day or two, will not be a problem.” Ibrahim responded: “it seems you secured biscuits for the people.”                          

• Strained ties between interior ministry and Dar al-Fatwa  

Al-Akhbar daily reported that the relation between Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Dar al-Fatwa has become strained after Dar al-Fatwa accused Charbel of targeting particular employees and laying them off for sectarian reasons and without any legal or administrative justification.        

• Following Gemayel speech, Kataeb supporters beat Syrian workers  

Al-Akhbar daily reported that, following the speech delivered by MP Sami Gemayel during the Saturday Kataeb ceremony in the yard of the Chiyah municipality, a number of Kataeb supporters lashed out at Syrian workers present near the Chevrolet Roundabout, beating them with sticks.

Kataeb supporters did not differentiate between pro-Assad and anti-regime Syrians.        

• Lebanon turns down international request to use Klayaat airport for observers’ mission  

An-Nahar daily learned on Wednesday that Lebanon has officially turned down an international request to use the Klayaat airport for the observers’ team that the U.N. Security Council had earlier decided to send to Syria for logistical reasons.

Lebanon’s rejection is based on its desire not to take a path that would eventually lead to the humanitarian corridors that Lebanon has already refused as part of its self-distancing policy.