Press Digest for Sunday August 19, 2012

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.                                        

• Berri to Davutoglu: we are exerting necessary efforts in hostage case         

An-Nahar Daily reported that Speaker Nabih Berri told Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu during a phone conversation: “We are exerting the necessary efforts in the case of Lebanese hostages in Syria”.                                                

• Charbel sources: to reveal positive updates in Lebanese hostages’ case       

Sources close to Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reported to An-Nahar Daily that Charbel returned from Ankara with a spirit of optimism, adding that he will reveal positive updates in the hostage case after briefing the president, prime minister and members of the follow-up committee on his Turkey’s meetings.       

The sources added that Charbel will be paying another visit to Turkey soon, confirming that the talks he held with the Turkish side did not address the issue of Turkish hostages.                                     

• Al-Mokdad’s military wing "a media-political fabrication"        

A high-ranking opposition leader reported to Al-Anbaa Kuwaiti Daily that the so-called “Al-Mokdad’s military wing” is a media-political fabrication created in line with a “decision by Hezbollah that is currently living the worst scenario as a result of the fall of its Syrian ally”.       

The leader pointed out the “speedy spillover of Syria’s chaos onto Lebanon after the revealing of a plot to blow off the Lebanese internal scene through Lebanese actors but Syrian directors”.     

The leader stressed that the recent domestic chaos came as a direct reaction to the arrest of former Minister Michel Samaha, adding that the party has covered up this “programmed and deliberate chaos” to restore balance to the internal scenery after it was disturbed, in favor of the March 14 camp, in the wake of Samaha’s arrest.                                      

• Sources from North Lebanon: Rai’s visit reassured Christians in Akkar       

Sources in North Lebanon reported to al-Mustaqbal Daily that the visit of Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai to Akkar has achieved several goals, mainly reassuring the Christians and boosting their morale.     

The sources added that the visit was also an opportunity to clarify recent positions taken by the Patriarch with regards to the Syrian situation, concerns over the Christian minorities and the recurrence of the Iraqi scenario.                                                

• “Unfriendly” meeting between Sheikh Kabalan and Turkish ambassador    

An-Nahar Daily reported that an “unfriendly” meeting was held two days ago between Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Inan Auzildise and the vice Head of the Islamic Shiite Supreme Council, Abdel Amir Kabalan.   

While Kabalan reiterated his objection to the kidnapping operations, he recalled the abduction of the 11 Lebanese hostages in Syria and reiterated Lebanon’s call on Turkey to help secure their release.    

In turn, the ambassador confirmed that the 11 Lebanese hostages are not in Turkey.