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.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported
that the General Director of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Ashraf
Rifi told journalists who had asked him about the case of former Minister Michel
Samaha that the Syrians already requested Hezbollah to implement attacks in
Lebanon, to the party's refusal, promising "nothing more than a little help".
The Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said that there was
no disagreement with the Future movement, noting that he only had a position
that did not satisfy the movement. He pointed that difference in points of view
do not lead to slander, adding that the Future movement vilified him.
In an interview with
al-Akhbar Daily, Qabbani said that the dispute started
when he took an administrative measure and stopped the assignment of Sheikh
Ousama al-Rifai in Akkar from the issuance of administrative Fatwas. Consequently,
reactions of the Future movement MPs followed, condemning this decision.
Mufti Qabbani said that the problem became more complicated when Najib Mikati
was appointed Prime Minister and was assigned to form the current cabinet, after
the fall of Saad Hariri’s cabinet.
Qabbani stressed that, following many developments, the
Future Movement started attacking the symbol of the Sunni hierarchy, and when Hezbollah
wanted to set up a meeting with him, the movement began exerting pressure to
call off the meeting, but Qabbani refused. On the second day, Future-run
newspapers were issued, stating that “the Mufti had crossed to the other side”.
“This is a lie; I am not the one who moves from one side to
the other as politicians do. What hindered good relation with the
Future Movement was former PM Fouad Siniora’s draft law aiming at modifying the
legislative decree number 18, issued in 1955, which deals with Sunni affairs. The
proposed modification aimed at reducing the powers of the Mufti of the Republic”,
Qabbani explained.
- Dialogue fate still unknown
As-Safir Daily reported that, one day before the convening of the dialogue session, March 14 forces have not
yet given a clear stance regarding their participation, awaiting the decision
to come from Saudi Arabia via former PM Saad Hariri.
A delegation from the March 14 camp will
be visiting President Michel Sleiman on Wednesday to inform him of the final
decision.
Sources revealed that, in case the
dialogue committee convenes, the cabinet session will be held at 3 o’clock in
the afternoon; however, if the dialogue committee fails to convene, the cabinet
session will take place at 11 o’clock before noon.
Meanwhile, Presidential sources told the Daily that Sleiman
did not receive, until Tuesday evening, any official decision from March 14
about its participation.
In this context, President Sleiman has not yet declared his
position, and whether or not he will hold the dialogue session with the attendants.
Sources told
An-Nahar Newspaper that it is very
difficult for any party to raise the case of former Minister Michel Samaha during
the cabinet session, due to two main factors, the first is that the Judiciary
is still at the beginning of its course with the second reason being that evidence is so strong that its constitute a prohibitive barrier to
any political speculation in the
case.
A source close to the head of the future movement Fouad
Siniora told
al-Liwaa Daily that his meeting with President Michel Sleiman, expected to take place on Tuesday was postponed at the last minute, since Sleiman
had to kick off his tour in Jbeil. Sleiman is expected to meet tonight with
Siniora, who will be handing over March 14’s letter regarding the dialogue.