Exclusive sources told
Al-Hayat Daily on Friday that the
Higher Defense Council addressed the clashes which rocked Sidon last Sunday and
went through the names of some suspected shooters. The Council considered that
the Lebanese Judiciary must take the necessary measures, adding that the arrest
and interrogation of suspects would pave the way for truce.
Well-informed sources told the Daily that the responsibility of
putting an end to tensions lies upon Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir; “it
lies even more upon Hezbollah's leadership which is required to hand the suspects
over to justice for interrogation.”
This as prominent ministerial sources told
Al-Hayat that there
are reasons behind the cabinet’s failure to adopt the request of Interior
Minister Marwan Charbel to turn Sidon into a “military zone”.
“This proposal
was later completely disregarded by the Higher Defense Council.”
A well-informed source told
Al-Hayat
Daily Friday that French President Francois Hollande and his administration are
supporting Lebanese institutions more than individuals, adding that
the visit of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has been expected for a long
time now and is "still on."
“However,
Mikati will not be visiting as a person but as the head of the Lebanese government; his trip will aim at signing
bilateral agreements rather than showing France’s support to Mikati against
former PM Saad Hariri," the source added.
The source recalled that Hollande
had announced both in Jeddah and Beirut that he was ready to meet the leaders
who want to meet him, adding that France will not start sending invitations any particular person. “All they have to do is ask to meet with the French
President, and a meeting will be arranged.”
The source added that while Hollande
voiced his approval of any governmental formula which would promote unity in
Lebanon, he said that France will not intervene in the formation of a new
government. “What France cares about is protecting Lebanon from the turmoil in
Syria; however, this does not mean that no change should be made to the current
governmental lineup.”
Imam of the Bilal Bin
Rabbah Mosque Sheikh Ahmad Assir is expected to hold a
press conference in Sidon on Friday to make important declarations.
In this regard, sources close
to Sheikh Assir told
Acharq al-Awsat Daily that he will be announcing “very
important positions” regarding the situation in Lebanon and the region. The
source did not provide any further details.
The same sources denied that
Assir will announce the formation of a military wing for Sunnis in Lebanon,
stressing that his movement will remain peaceful, "just like it has always been."
Iraqi
Foreign Minister Hoshar Zebari expects changes to take place both in Syria and
Iran in spring, adding that a no-fly zone might be imposed mainly on the
areas of Damascus which are heavily shelled by pro-regime troops. “This is just a
possibility,” he said.
Zebari
told
Acharq al-Awsat Daily that while his country welcomes the result of the Syrian opposition’s
meetings in Doha and the decision to unify the opposition, "Syria houses rebels who
have nothing to do with the coalition and who do not even recognize it."
"This is
why we deem it too early to consider the coalition as the opposition’s only
legitimate representative," he said.