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.
MP Sami Gemayel mentioned that the Kataeb Party is coordinating
with the Lebanese Forces in respect to the electoral law, and stressed that
the law of proportionality will not be discussed before continuing negotiations related to
the smaller districts.
In a talk with
An-Nahar newspaper Gemayel said that there many points that must
be covered regarding this issue.
The Minister of Labor Salim Jreissati mentioned to
Al-Joumhouria
newspaper that the actions of Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour regarding the
"anti-Islam" film are not legal according to article 52 of the Constitution.
Jreissati pointed out that even after the Taif Accord, foreign relations were
always in the hands of the President stressing that MP Mansour should have
consulted the president before taking any step.
For his part, Mansour denied receiving any remarks from
the State's President or Prime Minister.
Mansour stressed to
Al-Joumhouria that there was nothing but an amicable
reproach between them, but the media is responsible for the hype.
As-Safir newspaper mentioned that the information reported on Tuesday
by AP News Agency on the US Embassy diplomats covering highly classified information upon the request of the US state department, as well as security measures around the embassy in Awkar after the demonstrations
that Hezbollah called for to denounce
the anti-Islam film, raised questions in
political and diplomatic
communities.
Within this context, the spokeswoman of the US Embassy in Beirut
Amanda Johnson said to
As-Safir: "our adopted policy in this regard is
not commenting on security issues".
She also denied any fears of
possible attacks on the U.S. Embassy in
Awkar, and pointed
out that the security measures taken are ordinary procedures, adding: "the security situation in Lebanon has been facing
continuous fluctuations, and no exceptional measures were taken today".
The Lebanese Forces prepared an electoral law project on the basis of 61
districts.
Al-Akhbar newspaper
has published the division of districts upon this project that transfers a
Sunni representative from Baalbeck-Hermel to Akkar, and another Maronite
representative from Tripoli to Batroun.
To see the
full division of districts, click
here
The Federation of the Chambers
of Commerce Industry & Agriculture
of Beirut and Mount-Lebanon's chief Mohammad Choucair threatened civil disobedience,
strikes, and sit-ins if the series of ranks and salaries were not acknowledged.
Choucair mentioned to
Al-Joumhouria
newspaper that the series will lead to an increase in expenditures by two and a
half billion dollars annually adding that it's better for the cabinet to resign
if the series were not adopted.