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.
The commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces
confirmed that the implementation of the deployment
plan on the border with Syria needs some time, pending the completion of
withdrawal of some LAF forces from their current
location. Kahwaji continued that a need for a brigade is
of dire importance, in order to have a better grip on the border line.
In an interview with
As-Safir Lebanese Daily, Kahwaji said
that the aim of the plan is to
close all possible border gaps being used by insurgents,
adding that the implementation of a complete and utter grip is
very difficult.
Commenting
on the
words expressed by some which stated that the blood of Sheikh Ahmad Abdul Wahid and his companion is more precious than the blood of the army commander, Kahwaji said: "This statement is absurd and
lacks meaning. Now is not the time to be making pointless remarks.”
In his concluding
remarks the LAF commander confirmed that the army will not leave Akkar regardless of the
pressures which may be laid on him emphasizing that the Army meets
the call of the people who reject
any illegal armed presence in the area.
Following the
issuance of several lawsuits by people in
the neighborhood of Bab al-Tebbaneh
in Tripoli,
against the President of the Arab
Democratic Party Refaat Eid ,a
number of residents of Jabal Mohsen
raised personal claims against former Prime Minister Saad Hariri accusing him of ordering
murder. Case registrations by the
prosecution Brigade in Tripoli
are underway according to an article published
in the Wednesday edition of
Al-Akhbar Newspaper.
Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea stated via
Al-Jamhouria Daily
that the series of assassinations
will continue, noting that the rival team has adopted a process of elimination to face anyone who opposes its agenda.
Geagea went on to accuse Tele-Communications
Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui of “lying” regarding the communications data hand-out, adding
that the latter had done so without the necessary decoding keys.
Geagea demanded that President General Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and President of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt overthrow the government if it
continues to disable the delivery of communications data to the security services.
On the other hand, Geagea called on the people of Koura to head to the
polls Sunday, "because the election is a national responsibility,
and because the citizens are the
determiners of power," adding that the attempted assassination comes in the line of preparations
for the parliamentary elections.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported
that distance still reigns over the relationship between the Change and Reform bloc,
the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, due to the issue of the
EDL contract workers.
The Daily added that the Change
and Reform bloc has stated its commitment to
non-communication with both Hezbollah and Amal so long as partisans
occupy a public facility.
Ministerial sources said through an
interview with
An-Nahar Daily that the item pertaining to the finance of
the STL will be dismissed today in Cabinet based upon the wish of the Premiere
to relieve the discussions of any discourse which may arise as a result. The
sources added that when the payments are due, the funds will be
administered as previously done.
The
Daily went on to ask deputy
Minister of Economy and Finance Nicolas
Nahhas whether any obstacles had lead to
the above decision, to which he replied: "No obstacles
at hand, there is no problem in
the subject and there is no substance
for further discussion."