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.
Interior
Minister Marwan Charbel told
As-Safir Daily that the case of former Minister
Michel Samaha rests with the Prosecution General which gave the green light and
tasked security apparatuses with the operation.
Charbel
denied what he was quoted as saying with regards to Samaha’s acknowledgement of
all accusations directed against him, confirming that the former minister has
only admitted part of them.
Charbel
explained that Samaha’s arrest is not linked to telecom data, but is rather an
intelligence and security issue, adding that former Public Prosecutor Judge
Said Mirza was the first to monitor Samaha before his retirement.
An-Nahar Daily reported that the interrogation of
former Minister Michel Samaha will resume on Saturday afternoon provided that
the former minister will be later handed over to the Military Justice.
The daily added that Speaker Nabih Berri, along
with other top officials, was informed of the basic information related to the
case.
According to the daily, Hezbollah has also taken
and advanced stance on the case, announcing that it does not endorse the position
of the Head of the “Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc” MP Mohammad Raad.
Sources following up on the Samaha case told An-Nahar
daily that concerned Lebanese officials began private discussions with Foreign
Minister Adnan Mansour in anticipation for the phase that will follow the
announcement of investigations’ official results.
Al-Liwaa Daily quoted well-informed ministerial
sources following up on former Minister Michel Samaha’s case as saying that a
member of Al-Kfouri family revealed Samaha’s plot.
The daily added that this member was tasked by a
foreign country with monitoring Samaha’s movement and submitting a daily report
in this regard.
According to the sources, the member established a
close relationship with Samaha to the point that the latter has asked him to transfer
the explosive devices. This request prompted the member to reveal the plot to
his commanders.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that security members
working for former PM Saad Hariri’s companies have found their salvation in “Jihad
al-Arab”, the brother of Abd al-Arab who happens to be the head of Hariri’s
Personal Protection Device.
In details, Jihad al-Arab took it upon himself to settle
part of the employees’ due payments estimated at 35 million LBP.
It is worth mentioning that, besides being Abd
al-Arab’s brother, Jihad is the relative of martyr Yehya al-Arab who was among
the victims of Hariri’s assassination.
Visitors of President Michel Sleiman quoted him as
saying that the arrest of former Minister Michel Samaha was based on solid legal
evidence that proves his involvement [in explosions plot].
In a statement to
al-Mustaqbal Daily, the sources quoted
the president as denying that the arrest was based on security fabrications and
accusations made up by official apparatuses.
According to the sources, Sleiman is confident that
the security apparatuses are working in line with the constitution and national
duty.