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.
On the eve of Koura’s by-election, sources from the
Lebanese Forces and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party told
an-Nahar Daily that
a “fierce” electoral battle will be waged Sunday.
In a statement to
al-Mustaqbal Daily, the wife of
late MP Farid Habib, Mary Fayyad Habib, called on the Koura and Kosba residents
to massively vote for LF candidate Fady Karam.
Habib slammed accusations addressed by the SSNP
candidate Walid al-Azar to the LF, adding that al-Azar has no political program; “he
has engaged into his battle to offend the dignity of others,” she added.
PM Najib Mikati confirmed to
As-Safir Daily that the
exercise of his duties is based on his keenness on the country’s interest.
Asked on the current wave of protests, Mikati said:
“He who possesses solutions for all the issues, let him forward them. We are
doing our job quietly, carefully and responsibly. Everything falls into the
right place at the right time”.
The daily learned that Mikati, who is currently on
a family trip, is expected to meet with the Syndicate Coordination Body next
Monday, adding that the body’s demands will be tabled during the Wednesday
cabinet session which will discuss approving a new batch of administrative appointments.
Nouri al-Mismari, Gaddafi's former head of protocol,
revealed that a new lead was found in the disappearance case of Imam Moussa Sadr which involves the former head of the Libyan intelligence Abdullah al-Sanousi.
Al-Mismari explained to
al-Hayat Daily that, back
then, al-Sanousi called him asking whether the Italian authorities stamped the
passport of those entering the country.
“He called back later asking for three visas to
Italy”, al-Mismari said, revealing that one of the visas belonged to Imam Sadr.
Al-Mismari confirmed that Sadr did not leave Rome
but a high ranked Libyan officer disguised himself as the Imam and traveled using his passport which he deliberately left on a prayer rug in Rome hotel room.
An-Nahar Daily reported that Speaker Nabih Berri is
discontent with Naa’s tripartite gathering between the Lebanese Forces, the
Kataeb and Free Patriotic Movement.
The daily quoted Berri sources as confirming that they do not
oppose such a meeting between Christian parties but they are surprised over MP
George Adwan’s agreement to all the EDL-related decisions issued during the
meeting given that the latter is “one of the veteran lawyers”.
Political sources confirmed to
as-Safir Daily that Sheikh of the march of Imam
Bilal Bin Rabbah Mosque Ahmad Assir on Sidon’s Boulevard marks the beginning
of the implementation of the “escalation policy” that Assir will adopt as part
of his roadmap.
The sources added that Assir will resort to escalation
until a defense strategy is discussed during the dialogue session to be held
on July 25, as Assir previously announced.
The sources explained that Assir’s march sends a public
message that “there is no such thing as red-lines” and that Assir is neither
concerned nor interested in all meetings and counter protests taking place in the city.
The rally also sends a message to each of Speaker
Nabih Berri and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah prevalent in Assir’s statement:
“I am the one who decides when Berri can enter Sidon and when Nasrallah can
head for Dahiyeh”.
The daily said that Assir's rally has also addressed a message to
security apparatuses, particularly the LAF and UNIFIL, saying “this seaside road will be under my command”. The march mainly sends a message to the resistance, Sidonians and Southerners predicting that the "the isolation of the South from Lebanon is near," according to the sources.