Press Digest for Tuesday October 09, 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.

• Fneish: accusations are a partial campaign against Hezbollah                    

In response to the al-Arabiya report published on Saturday, the State Minister Mohammad Fneish said that Hezbollah is not involved in the assassination of late MP Gebran Toueini and pointed out that these accusations are part of a campaign against Hezbollah.                     

Talking to al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday Fneish said: "whenever some planned projects fail, accusations are made to contribute to this failure." .                    

• Lebanese Forces discuss participating in national dialogue                

Al-Akhbar newspaper mentioned on Tuesday that the Lebanese Forces are discussing participating in the national dialogue especially after the stances of the Lebanese President during his visit to Latin America.                     

The newspaper stated that the LF are considering modifying their positions on the base of hosting Sleiman's position without taking any final decision.                     

• Marwan Charbel: parliamentary elections will be conducted on time                  

Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel stressed on Tuesday that the Lebanese President is aware of the Lebanese situation and knows that Lebanon's stability is related to the region's stability.                          

Minister Charbel said to As-Siyasa newspaper that the electoral law is being discussed by deputies, but an electoral law must be adopted so that the Ministry of Interior starts preparing for the electoral process.                   

The minister also pointed out that the elections will take place on time except if serious security developments or military conflicts took place in Lebanon.                              

• 13 members from Hezbollah arrested in Syria                  

The joint leadership of the Free Syrian Army threatened moving the battle field from the Syrian territories to Beirut's Southern Suburbs if Hezbollah doesn't stop supporting the Syrian regime.                   

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) Spokesman Fahd al-Masri mentioned to Acharq al-Awsat newspaper that the 13 members from Hezbollah who committed crimes in Syria are detained in one of the villages in Homs.                

He also pointed out that most of these members are from Baalbeck-Hermel.                     

For his part, Hezbollah's Deputy Kamel Rifai stressed that all Hezbollah's members who died recently either died in Nabi Sheet or in a training camp in Lebanon               

Rifai concluded that there is an advisory opinion (Fatwa) that prohibits fighting in Syria.     
                     

• Mikati: reforms are essential for administrative appointments                   

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said to Al-Liwaa daily after yesterday's Cabinet session that the administrative reforms discussed were the first since 1959.              
He pointed out that the mentioned reforms are essential to hold administrative appointments.                     

Before the Cabinet's session Mikati stressed that he is ready to appoint deans for the Lebanese Universities as soon as the Minister of Education presents the names for him.