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 published on Friday the case of the Palestinian militants who left the Beddawi and Nahr el Bared refugee camps to join the rebels in Syria, describing the move as "aggravating."
Sources told the newspaper that the investigation committee commissioned by the Palestinian factions to inquire about these militants, met with a number of religious figures alongside the relatives of the men in question at the Nahr el Bared camp. The families denied having any information of the matter at hand.
According to the newspaper, the committee will be issuing a statement in which it will explain how the militants took an individual initiative when they left the camp. The statement will also stress on the Palestinian factions' rejection to any interference in the internal affairs of the Syrian and Lebanese states, warning of any behavior that could negatively influence the situation of the Palestinian people.
The Vice President of the Syrian National Council Faruq Tayfur said in an interview to
Al Hayat Newspaper that "the fall of Assad's regime will be similar to that of Gaddafi."
According to Tayfur, "the Syrian regime will fall by the end of 2012 after the failure of UN special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi's mission and the loss of Iranian and Russian backup."
Tayfur praised the efforts exerted by KSA, Qatar and other Gulf countries to support the Syrian people.
Tayfur also revealed that the joint military command that was recently announced by the Syrian opposition will be referred to the National Council, stressing that several countries are supporting this step.
French sources told
Al Hayat Daily that France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius was briefed during his meeting with Lebanese MP Marwan Hamadeh about the situation in Lebanon, stressing that Fabius understands Hamadeh's position.
In this context, Hamadeh's sources reported that the latter expressed to Fabius his wishes for the Lebanese PM and cabinet to resign after the assassination of late Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan which accordingly "uncovered the weakness of the Lebanese security system."
For his part, Fabius emphasized that France supports all Lebanese parties equally.
According to the sources, Fabius questioned Hamadeh about the alternative he is suggesting. Hamadeh's answer was: a technocrat cabinet.
Al Akhbar Daily published on Friday that Beirut's Mayor Bilal Hamad refused during the extraordinary meeting the municipality members held following the Achrafieh blast, to donate a certain amount to the people who were affected by the explosion.
However, and according to the daily, Hamad agreed after two days to compensate the affected families when a March 14 MP exerted pressure on the latter.
For his part, Hamad told
Al Joumhouria Daily that Beirut's municipality donated financial aid to all the people who were affected by the blast, stressing that the municipality does not wait for anyone's orders to fulfill its duties.
MP Nohad al-Mashnouk told
An-Nahar Daily that the Future bloc agreed with Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on 3 positions:
- Boycotting ministerial activities and dialogue sessions until a new cabinet is formed
- Explaining the Future bloc positions to international diplomats
- Devise a new and definitive mechanism for the communication between March 14's leaderships
Mashnouk added that the alternative cabinet they are suggesting is technocrat and neutral, stressing that its political program is set according to the Baabda Declaration.
Mashnouk also expected that Arab and International positions will change.