Press Digest for Sunday June 26, 2012

14^min

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.

Security forces extend deployment plan in Tripoli

Top security sources told An-Nahar Daily that the LAF and the ISF extended their deployment plan in Tripoli, implemented storming operations, tracked armed groups and confiscated weapons.

The sources noted that the situation is getting progressively under control, adding that security and military deployment allowed the forces to control sniping operations in many locations.

The same sources pointed that the exhaustion that plagued the disputing parties also played a role in ending the battles. In this context, Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tebbaneh are no longer able to bear the siege affecting the living conditions in the areas.

On the other hand, military sources told Al-Hayat Daily that the Lebanese Army Forces are working on cleaning the streets where the clashes were intense during the past few days. The LAF is implementing a ceasefire and is responding to the sources of fire.

Around 50 thousand Kuwaiti were expected in Lebanon

An-Nahar Newspaper revealed that around 50 thousand Kuwaiti were expected to come to Beirut, but the security situation and the kidnappings prevented them. This as a Kuwaiti national was kidnapped on Saturday in the Bekaa.

Khalidi arrested three days after storming his house and confiscating medical equipment

The Lebanese General Security arrested the director of Syrian Higher Relief Committee, Wael Khalidi on Saturday at Beirut International Airport following a signal from the intelligence directorate of the Lebanese Army.

In this context, the institution’s president Nabil al-Halabi confirmed the arrest news in a statement to Acharq al-Awsat daily, noting that Khalidi was arrested when leaving Beirut. He pointed that his arrest comes three days after raiding his house in Mejdel Anjar during his absence and confiscating medical equipment and medications he used to send to hospitals in Syria.

Al-Halabi said that Khalidi’s arrest is illegal since it was implemented by a non-judicial apparatus and is considered as a violation of the Lebanese Criminal Procedure.

Hostages’ relatives: Omar was not released due to health problem

Sources close to the relatives of the Lebanese hostages in Syria told Acharq al-Awsat Daily that the Association of the Muslim Scholars in Lebanon had promised Ali Omar that it will exert strong efforts to release his father Hussein Omar and the other kidnapped. The sources denied that the release of Hussein Omar was due to health issues, stressing that all the hostages are in good health.

On the other hand, Saiid Saleh, son of the kidnapped Jamil Saleh, stressed, in a statement to the daily, that Saturday’s release increased the families’ optimism that the case will reach a happy ending soon, noting that the Lebanese government started to deal with the case in a serious manner. Saleh called on Turkish authorities to contribute in the release of the ten other hostages.