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.
- Berri to families of Lebanese abductees in Syria: Sleiman will head to Turkey in
two days
An-Nahar Daily reported on Tuesday that House Speaker Nabih
Berri told a delegation composed of the families of the 11 Lebanese abductees in Syria
on Monday that their case has reached its final stages.
During his meeting with the delegation, Berri called Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who briefed him on the latest developments,
revealing to the families that President Michel Sleiman will be heading to
Turkey in two days to discuss the case of their sons.
Before leaving, the families advised Berri to ask the Turkish
ambassador to Lebanon who will meet with them today, to call Turkish President
Abdullah Gul and inquire about the release of their beloved ones.
“Remind the Turkish ambassador that his country played a role
in the release of the Iranian abductees in Syria; therefore, nothing prevents
them from doing the same thing with the Lebanese abductees”, Berri said.
Berri praised the families’ discipline and self-restraint,
reminding them not to cut off roads “since it is to no avail”, specially that
the Turks preferred to keep this case away from the media in order for protests
not to affect the ongoing negotiations.
- Sleiman to receive Paris’ support to
national dialogue
As-Safir Daily reported on Tuesday that
putting the Lebanese issue on the table of the French diplomacy at the Elysee
Palace and the Quai D’orsay shows the exceptional French interest in the situation
in Lebanon despite all regional and international events surrounding it.
The newspaper added that what has
been leaked from the program of the Lebanese president’s one-day visit to
France on Thursday was only a business dinner at the Elysee during which
Sleiman will meet the team of new President Francois Holland who puts Lebanon among
the French priorities.
The newspaper added that France is
adamant to keep Lebanon immune from security incidents and tensions in Syria.
A French diplomatic source stressed
that French officials will inform Sleiman that Lebanon’s security is a French
priority at this stage, that France is committed to Lebanon’s independence and
sovereignty, to its mandate in virtue of UNSC resolution 1701 and to the
participation of its troops in the UNIFIL.
Sleiman will also hear France’s
clear and public support to the national dialogue and to the LAF and its role in south Lebanon.
- The Tlas family fuming at Assad
Acharq al-Awsat Daily reported on Tuesday that the family of Syrian
defector Brigadier-General Manaf Tlas, is fuming at President Bashar Assad
because of what he did in their city of Rastan.
In this regard, a source close to the Tlas family considered
that the defection of Manaf Tlas from the Syrian army was expected, adding “I
don’t think he defected to lead a war against Assad”. The source said that Tlas
left to protect his life that had become under threat, adding that he is not
likely to join the free Syrian Army or the Syrian National Council.
The source said that Tlas has been against the security solution
from the beginning, and that he failed at his attempts to reconcile between the
regime and opposition figures in Rastan and Deraa.
“The brigadier-general gave up his military suit a few months
ago and now wears civilian clothes; he was living in Damascus and he let his
hair and beard grow”, the source added.
- Farouk al-Sharaa’s absence
feeds rumors on his defection or killing
Acharq al-Awsat Daily reported on Tuesday that amid ongoing
discussions to find means to implement the plan of international envoy Kofi
Annan in Syria, rumors on the killing of vice-president Farouk al-Sharaa or his
defection and departure from Syria appear every once in a while ever since the
beginning of the Syrian revolution.
At a time when an opposition source ruled out the defection
of al-Sharaa, it confirmed that he has been under house arrest for several
months. The source explained that in March 2001, the media talked about severe disputes that appeared
between the Syrian President, his brother Maher Assad and his brother in-law
Assem Shawkat on one hand, and vice-president Farouk al-Sharaa on the other,
following the Al Sanamayn massacre.
Commenting on the matter, opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) member Adib Shishakli said that no one has been able to confirm or deny this news yet, “but what is certain is that
al-Sharaa does not appear to the public during Assad’s meetings, the latest
being his meeting with international envoy Kofi Annan; this raises many
questions”, he said.