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.
Interior and Municipalities Minister
Marwan Charbel told
As-Safir Daily that the Internal Security Forces
Information Branch requested obtaining the content of the SMS sent throughout Lebanon
over the past two months that preceded the assassination of Brig. Gen. Wissam
Hassan, noting that the concerned judicial committee rejected such a request for
reasons pertaining to personal freedom and individual privacy protected by the
Constitution. Accordingly, another request was presented and included obtaining
the contents of the SMS of the Lebanese people residing in only two districts, Mount Lebanon being one.
In this context, Charbel stressed
that he understands the security forces’ need to obtain the SMS, since it allows
access to clues in the assassination crime. He however noted that if the security
forces obtained the SMS's sent between the Lebanese people, it would not necessarily mean that all content would be disclosed. He pointed that the phone numbers of parties’
leaders and top officials are not usually included in the telecom data lists
delivered to the security apparatuses.
On the other hand, Charbel said that
the Lebanese Army is playing an important role in contacting the concerned
parties in Syria in order to reveal the real events of Tal Kalakh and the fate
of the young Lebanese men. He denied the fact that all the group members were
killed, stressing that some of them were killed, others injured or detained while others managed to escape.
Al-Joumhouria Daily reported that, in
order to preserve Lebanon’s security and stability, the Lebanese Army refuses
that Majdel Anjar turn into a “radical reserve and independent emirate”,
controlled by an extremist group with ideological principles that intersect with that
of al-Qaeda and Fatah al-Islam.
According to the available information
obtained by the LAF Intelligence about the formation of a militant group
planning to carry out terrorist acts and operations targeting the military
institution, through seeking to buy weapons and hand grenades, the Intelligence
was able to arrest the Majdel Anjar terrorist network, composed of six persons.
The Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
told
As-Safir Newspaper that he is concerned over the increase of the number of
Lebanese parties getting involved in the Syrian events, expressing his regret
towards the killing of a number of Lebanese young men in Tal Kalakh.
Accordingly, he stressed the need to proceed with the adoption of the self-distancing
policy.
On the other hand, Berri warned against
the dangers and challenges that could mark the period before the dialogue
session expected to be held on the 7th of January, calling on all parties to be prepared.
Answering a question on whether he
would accept to lift the immunity off MP Okab Sakr following the revealing of the
recordings confirming his involvement in the armament of the Syrian opposition,
Berri said that he would take the necessary actions once he receives a detailed
report from the General Prosecution.
- Rai prefers formation of a national rescue cabinet
Bkerke visitors reported to
al-Joumhouria Daily that the
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai expressed that he prefers the formation
of a national rescue cabinet that would implement the Baabda Declaration and
hold the parliamentary elections based on a new electoral law.
The visitors told the daily that the Patriarch does not reject
the Orthodox gathering’s proposal, but he does not interfere in the details;
however, he warned against adopting the 60s electoral law in the upcoming
elections, noting that this will be considered as prejudice against the Christians.