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.
The Imam of the
Bilal Bin Rabbah Mosque, Sheikh Ahmad Assir stressed that Sheikh
Salem al-Rafeii did not literally call during his speech, for the establishment
of a military council, explaining that he meant that the Sunnis have the right
to defend themselves when the government is absent.
In an interview with
As-Safir Daily, Assir rejected the formation of a “military wing” for the sect,
stressing that of military councils benefit neither the government nor the
Sunnis.
Sheikh Assir said that
he will be committed to what is required to get back to the street, pointing that
this time he will ask for a prior authorization from the governor and inform
the leaders of security apparatuses in the region. However, in case he did not
receive the authorization, Assir said that “he will turn his back and act
according to the specified escalation”, noting that his moves will be limited
to small strikes.
“We are back to the
zero point. In the issue of the arms, they lied to the PM and Interior
Minister. We ended our open strike following promises that the arms issue will
be discussed during the dialogue session. It was later revealed that they are dodging
the issue as they have been doing for seven years”, Assir stated.
In this context, Assir
stressed that they will not resort to kidnappings or armament, noting that
their only weapon is peaceful action.
Future bloc MP Samir Jisr
said that the meeting expected to be held by the city’s official figures will
follow up with the security officials and affected sides the required means to
end the explosions.
Jisr told
An-Nahar Daily
that sniping operations are new means being used in the conflict and continued
on Thursday night. “We did not give up our responsibilities and we will keep on
assume them”, he added.
MP Jisr mentioned a package
of measures, pointing that the most important thing is to implement these
measures, even if they succeed by only 80%.
Al-Hayat Newspaper reported that a meeting was previously set between the Army
Chief Jean Qahwaji and a number of Future bloc MPs, Hady Hbeish, Samir Jisr,
Ahmad Fatfat and Jamal Jarrah, where they discussed the situation in Tripoli and
the lawsuit filed by the military institution against Merhebi.
Sources close to conferees noted that the issue was discussed frankly and
openly. General Qahwaji said that he does not want to clash with anyone, and
that the lawsuit filed against Merhebi is linked to the morale of the LAF and
aims at containing the resentment which emerged in its ranks.
Al-Jounhouria Daily reported that Director General
of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim stressed that he received on Thursday confirmations
from Turkish intelligence reassuring him of the health of all the Lebanese
hostages in Syria, adding that he is still awaiting new information, based on which
the next move, related to the Interior Minister’s second visit to Ankara will
be specified.
The leader of the
Lebanese Arab Democratic Party Rifaat Ali Eid said that groups affiliated with the Future Movement
are seeking to stir a sectarian atmosphere in Tripoli, through damaging Alawite
properties. He called on the government to protect the Alawite in the city and
on the army to “strike with an iron fist” those who breach security.
In an interview with
Acharq al-Awsat
Daily, Eid denied having anything to do with the killing of the young man on Thursday,
noting that his murder took place tens of kilometers away from Jabal Mohsen. He
pointed that there is a side seeking to fuel the clashes in the city.
In this context, Rafaat Eid accused
Saudi Arabia and Qatar of benefiting from Lebanese allies to fund a regional project
aiming at destabilizing the situation, stressing that Jabal Mohsen’s residents
are committed to their resistance and support for the Syrian regime. He denied
that the source of weapons is Hezbollah, pointing that the residents buy their
arms from the Future Movement.
The Lebanese Arab Democratic Party leader said that the region of Jabal
Mohsen is not concerned with the meetings being held, accusing the conferees of
fueling the situation.