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.
As-Safir Daily reported that
there might not be a solution to the sit-in held by Imam of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque, Sheikh Ahmad Assir, noting that Sidon’s
residents expressed their fear from possible “dramatic escalation” before the
dialogue session in July 25.
Reports said that Assir might implement his plan
that consists of closing the seaside road to isolate the South from Lebanon, in
case his demands were not taken into consideration during the dialogue session.
Accordingly, it is expected that Sidon’s
committee, emanating from the meeting of chamber of commerce, traders
association, Sidon’s municipality and civil society committees, will be meeting
with President Michel Sleiman at the Baabda Palace to call for ending Assir’s
sit-in.
Sources close to the
committee told the newspaper that the date of the general strike against Assir’s
sit-in will be declared after making the necessary calls with the three presidents.
Sources told
al-Mustaqbal Daily that a reconnaissance unit is touring possible sites for army deployment on the
borders in the North and contacting mayors of the towns to prepare the sites
according to the plan of deployment.
The sources said that the deployment is moving slowly, but
within a plan, comparing it with the deployment of 2005-2006, pointing to two
main differences. First, this year, the army’s missions are larger since the
Syrian border units are unable to control the field near the Lebanese territory.
Second, an important factor makes the mission harder, the presence of tens of
thousands of refugees in Akkar and the border towns in Wadi Khaled.
The same sources noted that the upcoming days will reveal
which side supports the deployment and which one does not.
An-Nahar Daily reported that the negotiations in the case of
the 11 Lebanese abductees in Syria have reached an advanced stage and that
positive results may soon come to light . It added that President Michel Sleiman
is following up this case with a top security official and he might travel to
Turkey in case efforts did not succeed.
Sources told the daily that this issue might be an important
point in the speech of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who
will express his gratitude to the President Michel Sleiman, as an indirect reaction
to the tense positions of head of Change and Reform bloc regarding Hezbollah’s recent
stances.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told
al-Joumhouria Daily
that he is very pleased with the results of the Koura sub-elections adding however, that he remains worried and seeks reassurance.
Commenting on primary information reporting that the Sunni
have given their votes equally to both parties, Geagea said: “I am not sure, I need
to scrutinize”.
Remarking on reports stating that Fadi Karam owes his
victory to the votes of the expatriates and the Christians of all confessions, Geagea
answered: “I don’t know, I will make sure, the important thing is that we won”.
MP Antoine Zahra told
al-Akhbar newspaper that the Koura’s
sub-election is an introduction to the general elections that will take place
in 2013, and Karam’s victory is a proof that Koura is loyal to the Lebanese
Forces, not to the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, as some people were
claiming.