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.
Head of the Change and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun
said that he will not transfer his candidacy in the coming parliamentary
elections from Keserwan to Baabda.
In an
interview with
As-Safir newspaper Aoun said that his main aim is to win the 5 parliamentary
seats in Keserwan and pointed out that it is important that foreign countries
do not fund the campaigns of March14.
MP Aoun expressed
his concern about holding the elections based on the 1960's electoral law and said
that he will not accept any imposed electoral law.
In this
context, Aoun confirmed his willingness to proceed with the Orthodox
Gathering's proposal and expressed his astonishment seemingly since March14
forces asked for holding sub-parliamentary meetings at the residence of one of
their MPs.
And since the
current situation may not be handled in the absence of a government, Aoun called
for agreeing on an electoral law first and then forming a new cabinet.
From another
part, Deputy Aoun said that the Future Bloc interfered in the
regional-international confrontation taking place in Syria and is trying to
drag Lebanon into the crisis.
In this
context, Aoun called for lifting the immunity of every MP involved in arming the
Syrian opposition.
Commenting on
the words of the LF Leader Samir Geagea as saying that he does not sit for national
dialogue with MPs Michel Aoun, Mohammad Raad and Assad Hardan, Aoun said
mockingly "we should raise a file to the Vatican in order to mark the holiness
of Geagea"
Speaker of
the Parliament Nabih Berri said that the only way to get out of the political
crisis is via dialogue separate from the one President Sleiman is calling for,
and expressed his relief regarding his recent meeting with March14 deputies.
The Speaker
said to
Al-Akhbar newspaper that forming a new cabinet may not take place away
from dialogue and added that both himself and MP Walid Jumblatt agreed since the beginning
on a national unity cabinet.
As for the
electoral law, Berri said that he is with considering Lebanon as one electoral
district on the base of proportionality and added that he might not agree on
the law that Christians may propose, but at the same time he would not stand "against them."
A ministerial
source said to
As-Safir newspaper on Friday that a new agreement related to
the series of ranks and salaries will be discussed on Monday during the cabinet session.
The source
added that the agreement serves the economic bodies and the central bank from
one side, and is considered as a means away from the strike called for by the
Syndicate Coordinating Body if the cabinet did not ratify the pay scale before the
new year.
Sources close
to the Future Bloc said on Friday to
An-Nahar Daily that the press conference
held by MP Okab Sakr shows the difference between those
sending armed men to participate in the Syrian war and others standing
alongside the Syrian people and trying to provide them with humanitarian aid.
Sources in
the Bloc added that what MP Sakr presented in the conference is a "scandal" that requires immediate judicial
measures and asked the National Council for Media and the Information Minister to take necessary
measures against media outlets involved in this issue seemingly since it threatens
civil peace.
Judicial
sources said on Friday to An-Nahar newspaper that the Public
Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi did not receive any recordings from MP Okab Sakr and added that content of
these recordings, when received, will be documented to take appropriate judicial
measures.
Sources added
that Judge Madi had previously assigned the
criminal investigations bureau to document the content of MP Okab Sakr
recordings which were broadcasted on OTV.