Press Digest for Friday September 14, 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.   

• Strict measures around the U.S. embassy in Awkar                   

Knowledgeable Sources declared about taking strict measures around the U.S. embassy in Awkar and the Dutch embassy in Ashrafieh, along with other security precautions after invitations via "Facebook" and "Twitter" were reportedly sent to organize demonstrations facing these embassies to protest the film that offends the Prophet Mohammad.            

Sources revealed to Al-Liwaa newspaper about various calls that took place on Thursday with Islamic religious leaders to commit to calmness especially that no political leader wishes for the incitement of acts similar to what happened before the Danish embassy in Beirut on February 5, 2006, protesting the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.  
        

• France will maintain Lebanese helicopters           

Sources informed Al-Akhbar newspaper that the French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Derian, after meeting the 3 top Lebanese officials, declared that France will be conducting maintenance services on Lebanese choppers.          
   

• A no-fly zone over Syria          

The French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Derian stated to An-Nahar newspaper that France, in addition to other countries, is considering establishing a no-fly zone over Syria, but he later on acknowledged that the establishment of no-fly zone over the Syrian territory requires mobilizing a huge force backed by a Security Council resolution.                  

• Suggestion of a new electoral law                

MP George Adwan mentioned to An-Nahar that Lebanese Forces, and the Kataeb Party, in addition to MP Boutros Harb and independent Christian deputies will propose a new electoral law next week where the number of its supporters will reach 56 deputies and will increase successively as other deputies and blocs agree upon it.                   

• New evidence in MP Michel Samaha's case                    

A major security source stated to Al-Joumhouria that more recordings with various Lebanese and Syrian figures will be revealed in Michel Samaha's case. The source also mentioned that these recordings were found on mobile phone and other devices that Samaha had been using.

• Mikati discusses the 2013 general budget

Sources to Al-Joumhouria newspaper mentioned that PM Najib Mikati started on Thursday a series of business meetings to discuss the general budget of year 2013 and ways to finance the series of ranks and salaries.  

The first meeting held by Mikati was on Thursday night when he met Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Mohammed Fneish and Gebran Bassil.