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.
Former minister and deputy Mohammad Abed Al-Hamid Baydoun told
Al-Anbaa daily that he does not think that Mikati’s speech, in which the latter
confirmed that he and his colleagues refuse to be the “problem” in the country,
mean that he is intending to resign. He added that Mikati is facing a bigger problem
that will last as long as his cabinet will do, and is that of Hezbollah’s
refusal to pass the budget since it includes financing STL.
Baydoun told the daily that Hezbollah Secretary General
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah did not bring anything new in his late speech while the Lebanese
people were expecting answers concerning the security, financial and living conditions chaos created by his
cabinet.
Baydoun added that Nasrallah did not mention the cabinet in
his speech, since he cannot defend a failed cabinet that proved to be the
cabinet of corruption and chaos formed by parties allied to split financial, administrative
and political booties. He noted that this failure in managing the state’s
affairs is a result of giving Hezbollah the priority for his regional projects
related to arms, while establishing a state requires integrity and
transparency.
The
head of the Arab Democratic Party, Rifaat Eid hoped that the Lebanese army will
settle the problem in Tripoli.
Eid
told
Al-Joumhouria daily that he is keen on preventing the old events between
Bab al-tebbeneh and Jabal Mouhsen from sparking new incidents, saying: “we have
nothing to do with these events”.
The Minister of economy and Trade Nicolas Nahhas told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that security leaders lacked political decision and
they were told to lift the immunity of any armed person no matter what party he
belonged to, adding that the army will not be careless with anyone ever.
Nahhas noted that LAF leader and leaders of security apparatuses
declared during the higher defense council that the situation is under control.
He stressed that the parties involved in the latest events are the same in
every clash that happens in the city.
According to
An-Nahar daily, PM Najib Mikati expressed surprise before leaders from Tripoli concerning
the arrest of Shadi Mawlawi, pointing out that General Security usually arrests
people at the airport or at the borders, not inside the country.
An-nahar
mentioned that leaders from Tripoli told Mikati that the Syrian regime prepared
a list of wanted people, who support the Syrian revolution and help its
fighters from Lebanon, and gave it to the Lebanese General Security to arrest
them. The Syrian regime also demands the Lebanese government to hand over Syrian
opposition members and fighters who fled to Lebanon.
An-Nahar daily revealed that these demands come
within the frame of four Syrian conditions that Damascus delivered to PM Mikati
via a close mediator. The conditions include:
-
Giving
up the policy of distancing Lebanon from the Syrian crisis and stressing the
need of the Lebanese government to determine its choices and commitments.
-
Support
MP Michel Aoun’s demands
-
Hand over
Syrian refugees in Lebanon
-
Adopt
an electoral law on the basis of proportionality
An-Nahar reported that a source from General Security refused
to enter in a debate regarding Shadi Mawlawi arrest, adding that they are
waiting for the true story and the right moment to arrest him.
The same source noted that the General Security apparatus is
a judicial control group that play its role and carry out its duties in
supervising the relevant authorities such as all the security apparatuses,
army, ISF and other.
According to
An-Nahar daily, diplomatic reports in Beirut
mentioned that Washington rejects any Israeli war against Iran, and it is well
aware of the repercussions that a military confrontation between Israel and
Iran could have not only on the state itself but also on the states in the
region like Lebanon and Syria.
Washington warned against ignoring any attack,
instead, if any attack takes place, it must be reported to the US.