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.
Lebanese sources revealed to
As-Safir Daily that President
Michel Sleiman has received from UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon a letter praising Lebanon’s
policy vis-à-vis surrounding events.
The letter also commended Sleiman’s stance on regional
developments as well as the efforts he is exerting on the domestic level to
revive national dialogue, the sources added.
Security sources revealed to
Al-Akhbar Daily that Syrian
opposition armed men are positioned along the Lebanese border wire, from
al-Arida to Wadi Khaled.
According to the daily, security reports reveal that one armed opposition
group is stationed in a wooded area, located between Al-Kashlak and Ammar
al-Bikat. The group is overseen by the head of municipality of a neighboring
town. Another armed group is positioned in the farm of Qusseir and overseen by
a Salafist sheikh.
The sources revealed to the daily that these groups
are trying to infiltrate into Syrian territory on a daily basis through several
border crossings located between al-Arida and the border town of Sammakieh in
Akkar.
In this context, information made available to the
daily revealed preparations for an inclusive attack on border posts in Bekayaa,
Dabboussiyeh and Arida.
Overnight clashes between Tripoli’s al-Qibba and
Jabal Mohsen became so intense around midnight that the LAF was unable to
contain the violence,
As-Safir Daily reported on Saturday.
Security sources revealed that, two citizens engaged
in a verbal bout on Friday with two other men in al-Bekar, while on their way
to Jabal Mouhsen. The two men lashed out at them, using sharp tools and sticks.
They were consequently
transferred to a dispensary in Jabal Mouhsen in a critical condition.
In the aftermath of the conflict, an armed clash
erupted between people from al-Bekar and others from Jabal Mohsen, involving machine
guns, bombs and rocket-propelled grenades.
The clash heated up and spread onto other areas in
Tripoli, injuring Palestinian national Mohammad Khaled Kayed and another one whose
identity remains undisclosed.
As-Safir Daily reported that Maronite Patriarch
Beshara Rai is still keen on paying his 3-day pastoral visit to Akkar, scheduled
for August 13-15.
According to the daily, it is so far obvious that the
fate of this visit will not be similar to that of Tripoli which was postponed
for several reasons, some of which remain undisclosed.
Meanwhile, Pastoral sources in Diman revealed to
the daily that Rai slammed recent threatening statements addressed to Christians
in Akkar, confirming that he is adamant about the visit despite threats.
Diplomatic sources revealed to A
n-Nahar Daily that the European Union turned down Israeli
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s request to include Hezbollah in its blacklist of terrorist
organizations for it has not been supported by any evidence.
The sources described Lieberman’s decision to submit
the request to Brussels as “bad”, adding that the Israeli FM is “hated” by a
number of European countries.