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.
In an article published in its Monday
edition, Lebanese Daily
As-Safir said that the apparent discourse which had
been prevailing in the past days between the FPM and Hezbollah is now on its way
to containment as communication between Aoun and Nasrallah have resumed.
In parallel, the newspaper learned that a meeting was held in Ain el-Teeneh between Speaker Nabih Berri and political aide to the Secretary General of Hezbollah Hussein Khalil in the
presence of Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.
Among their topics of discussion was the issue of the EDL contract workers
law.
In a related event, a meeting between Minister of Energy Gebran Bassil and
Chairman of the Liaison Committee of Hezbollah Wafik Safa was also held in those regards.
Hezbollah remains silent about the spy network which it claimed it
uncovered in Beirut’s
Southern Suburbs last month. According to An-Nahar Lebanese Daily, this network
included three main players, two of which had been residing in the area of Bouj
el-Brajneh, with the third from a Bekaa town.
According to information obtained by
An-Nahar, the men identified as
J.J and M.S (Bourj el-Brajneh) and M.H (Bekaa) – formed a spy network to obtain
information on Hezbollah. The men, who are not members of the resistance group, set up their network in Beirut’s
Southern Suburbs. The person identified as the most volatile is M.H, who had
been residing in France
following a brief stay in Ukraine
where he had been involved in an illegal smuggling network alongside Lebanese,
Palestinian and Iraqi nationals.
In this context, sources said that the Secretary General of Hezbollah
is expected to address this latest discovery in his speech to be delivered on
the 18th of this month in the sixth yearly commemoration of the July
2006 war.
Al-Hayat Lebanese Daily wrote in its Monday publication that the issue of MP
Boutros Harb’s assassination attempt will not remain the prerogative of ordinary
investigative courts, but will be
referred to the Judicial Council by
Cabinet as a political crime
that threatened the security of the state.
According to political sources, preliminary investigations have reached
an advanced level – adding that the assailant who was captured at the scene of
the crime had left behind him a briefcase containing crime tools. This aided
the work of the crime investigations teams in fingerprint and identity
identification. The assailant has been confirmed as Lebanese.
Sources refused to give out further details pertaining to the crime scene.
Lebanese Premiere Najib Mikati confirmed that
thorough discussions are underway regarding whether or not to transfer the case
of slain “Sheikh Abdul Wahid and
companion” to the Judiciary Council.
Mikati said via
As-Safir that the results of these discussions should be
finalized prior to today’s cabinet session, refusing to add further details.
Mikati added that Cabinet will be held if quorum is available, even if
Ministers of the Change and Reform Bloc chose not to attend.
Regarding the harsh criticism voiced out towards the
government by former PM Fouad Siniora, Mikati said that that “nothing can
affect his convictions.”
Minister of Labor Salim Jreissati said that
legal clauses that enable the referral of the case of slain “Sheikh Abdul Wahid
and companion” to the Judiciary Council do not exist. Through
As-Safir Lebanese
Daily, the Change and Reform Minister stated the volatility of such a referral
since it suggests l"ack of trust in military courts."
“Necessary
investigations were conducted and in accordance to the results, eleven LAF
personnel were released, it was not random” he said.
“Referring the case to the Judiciary Council
strikes the prestige and dignity of the LAF at a time when the LAF needs our
utmost support in order to implement security and peace throughout threatened Lebanese
areas,” Jreissati stressed.