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.
As-Safir Daily quoted Prime Minister Najib Mikati as saying on
Saturday that since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, he has made it clear
that his priority is the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese and their
protection from the repercussions of regional incidents, especially amid the
domestic governmental schism over several issues.
“We will continue to adopt this approach but at the same
time, we cannot accept violation of our sovereignty; we will take the
appropriate position in regards to all incidents”, visitors of Mikati quoted
him as saying.
Sources close to Mikati told the Daily that when the country’s
borders or people are violated, the Premiere always takes the decision that protects
Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence. “But this does not mean that the Syrian-Lebanese
relations should take a hostile turn as long as problems can be solved through
calm contacts between public institutions”, he reportedly said.
The head of the Al-Mokdad Clan’s Association
Maher al-Mokdad told
Al-Akhbar Daily on Saturday that the Turkish detainee who
was in their custody went missing after the Lebanese army arrested his brother Hassan
al-Mokdad. Maher announced that he does not know anything about the Turkish
national’s whereabouts and is no longer responsible for his safety. “This
also applies to 4 Syrian abductees”.
“It seems that Sheikh Hassan al-Mokdad was
lured by an LAF officer following a problem "of a futile nature"; he was then arrested to the
surprise of everyone”, Al-Mokdad said, adding that this arrest was a planned intelligence
operation.
On another note, a military official told the
Daily that the 5 Syrian abductees in addition to the Turkish hostage were still
in the custody of the Mokdad Clan, adding that Maher al-Mokdad’s statements
were due to the fact that the arrested Sheikh knows the detention site of the Lebanese
abductees who are expected to be transferred to another location.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported on Saturday that a Saudi national who
was caught smoking at Beirut international airport was arrested and taken to
the tourist police office. However, instead of fining him in accordance to the
new smoking ban law that entered into force on September 3rd, the officer
in charge apologized to him before releasing him.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported on Saturday that it turned out the
son of National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt, Taymour, went to
France for security reasons. Al-Mokdad Clan reportedly threatened Taymour and
his father who ordered him not to return to Lebanon.
- Hariri: Any violator of Lebanon’s stability and integrity
will have to face me
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri called Saturday for
resorting to the U.N. Security Council whenever Syria shells Lebanese border
towns, adding that the Lebanese official stance towards the Syrian violations
of Lebanon’s sovereignty is “shameful”. Hariri described the positions of the
government as “ambiguous” and those of President Michel Sleiman as “advanced”.
Hariri told
Al-Hayat Daily on Saturday that he refuses the
accusations that March 14 is providing the Syrian opposition with weapons. “I
only support the Syrian people politically, humanly and through the media; the
Syrian regime can no longer stay”, he said.
Hariri considered that the toppling of the Syrian regime will
unveil the assassin of his father late Rafik Hariri and the role the regime
had in this crime. He stressed that the
Syrian regime is still meddling in Lebanon’s internal affairs, citing Michel
Samaha as one of its tools.
Hariri acknowledged the existence of Shiite-Sunnite tensions
in Lebanon and warned against the use of sectarian language. “Lebanon will be
safe as long as there are men who will not allow tensions to get to the streets;
Anyone who tries to breach Lebanon’s security and integrity will have to face
me”, he said.