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.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported
that “if all goes well, a security plan expected to target the Bekaa this week will be implemented following intensive discussions between security forces,
the Amal Movement and Hezbollah to set up a suitable logistics scenario."
Prior to the plan taking effect, security forces are seeking "popular cover" for the plan, so
that the Army will be able to implement it without facing social problems.
Security sources stressed
that the Army’s only goal is to fight against thieves, security violators and
law-breakers, not to oppress the demands of the people who are seeking an
improvement in their economic and standards of living.
Lebanese Prime Minister
Najib Mikati stressed that the cabinet is seeking to resolve a batch
of administrative appointments, after political agreements in those regards reached developed stages.
In a statement to
As-Safir
Daily, Mikati explained that “an appointment list has become almost ready”,
expecting to put the final touch soon, in preparation for its approval during the cabinet
session.
In this context, ministerial sources declared that “the
appointments file is on fire”, expecting to appoint Judge Jean Fahed as Chairman of the Supreme Judicial
Council, while Judge Tannous Mechleb (MP Michel Aoun’s candidate for the
presidency of the Supreme Judicial Council) is expected to be appointed as
Public Prosecutor for Mount Lebanon. These appointments are an implementation
for the “judicial settlement” reached between President Sleiman and MP Aoun
following a long dispute.
The
same sources told the newspaper that Hatem Madi may be appointed as General
Prosecutor, adding that a management committee for the oil sector may see the
light soon after all parties nominated their candidates and sent them to Energy
Minister Gebran Bassil, who is expected to refer the names to the cabinet for approval.
- Berri conducts intensive
calls to reach an inclusive electoral law
An-Nahar Daily reported that
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is pursuing his calls with MP Talal
Erslan and the Lebanese Forces through MP Antoine Zahra in order to find common
grounds on which an inclusive electoral law will be built.
It is worth mentioning that
Berri, under the cover of his Shiite ally Hezbollah, first contacted head
of the Future bloc Fouad Siniora, the ministers of the National Struggle Front
and then MP Sami Gemayel. Berri will be also be making calls with figures from the
Free Patriotic Movement.
On the other hand, Future Movement sources noted that “the
Movement will agree on a law which takes into account the concerns of all
parties”.
Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi declared that the amendment
of the Central Inspection decree aims at the modernization of the administration, and then it aims at alleviating the burden, efforts and time
spent for central inspection.
Qortbawi told
As-Safir Daily that the draft law on the “right of
access to information” proposed before the cabinet session, aims at facilitating
the citizen’s access to classified information in all administrations. "This law
will allow the citizen to save time and will be an application to the principle
of transparency in the administrative work."
Al-Diyar Daily reported that a
"volatile plan is taking into effect" following the meeting held between head of the Internal Security
Forces Information Branch Wissam Hassan and CIA
director General David Petraeus, and that a US-Gulf final decision has
been reached to establish a Sunni State which extends from Qalamoun region in
the North to the Lebanese-Syrian border in Akkar.
According to the Daily,
the plan requires fast implementation, leading former PM Saad Hariri to ask
Sunni figures of Beirut, Sidon and Tripoli to dismiss or isolate Mufti Mohammad
Qabbani as soon as possible. “Hariri offered money to a great number of Sheikhs
urging them to contribute in removing Qabbani”, the daily added.