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 revealed that four official figures
from March 14 coalition are seriously threatened with assassination, noting
that the greater danger is currently surrounding MP Khaled Daher.
Charbel told
As-Safir Daily
that a private security company, officially assigned by the Lebanese
government, must secure protection for the political officials, since the
capabilities of the security forces are not enough to perform this duty as
required.
On the other hand, Charbel
told the newspaper that, during the cabinet session, he will call for finding a
new formula that allows to protect the privacy of the Lebanese citizens and to meet
the needs of the security forces at the same time; noting that “everyone should
take into consideration that the moral of the officers and the Internal
Security Forces institution is at stake following the assassination of the
Brig. Gen. Wissam Hassan.”
Telecommunications Minister
Nicolas Sehnaoui stressed, in a statement to
As-Safir that he will not accept
the passing of the issue of telecom data, noting that it violates the constitution,
the laws and the rights of the citizens. “It is impossible that we deliver the
complete data to any security apparatus, under any excuse; we did not refuse
any demand from the security forces when it was limited to one number,” he
added.
Sehnaoui said that the request
to receive all the contents of the calls and conversations via Skype and
Whatsapp has been at the Ministry since last July, adding that “they did not
comment on it since it exposes the privacy of citizens.”
Speaker Nabih Berri told
An-Nahar Daily that the statement issued by heads and rapporteurs of March 14
committees and their declaration that they will resume work in the electoral
draft law committee, are a “positive step”.
Commenting on the meeting of
the other coalition of Hezbollah, Amal Movement and the Free Patriotic
Movement which focused on many issues,
mainly the electoral law, Berri said that this meeting and its results are “normal
as usual”, noting that these three parties have already declared their rejection
of the 60s law.
In this context, Berri said
that he agrees with the Marada party leader Sleiman Franjieh when the latter said
that he guarantees the agreement of his allies Hezbollah and Amal on the
Orthodox gathering’s proposal. “I agree with MP Sleiman Franjieh and the
Christians regarding the electoral law,” Berri noted.
Commenting on whether such
position may cause embarrassment with MP Walid Jumblatt who supports the 60s
law, Berri stated: “who said that ‘my friend’ Walid Jumblatt does not agree on
the Christian consensus?”
On the other hand, Speaker
Berri said that the army deployment in Tripoli’s streets is “more than good”;
stressing that such a step is inevitable, since “Tripoli does not deserve to
witness the fall of victims and injuries and the destruction of its economy.”
The cabinet is expected to
convene in a regular session at the Baabda Palace under the chairmanship of
President Michel Sleiman, with 70 items on its agenda. The main item to be
discussed is the request presented by the security apparatuses for receiving the
complete telecom data including cellphones messages and the contents of emails across Lebanon.
While a ministerial source
told
An-Nahar Newspaper that the majority is refusing to meet these demands,
the source noted that the cabinet might agree on supplying limited information
under the condition of modifying the request.
In this context, Prime
Minister Najib Mikati told
As-Safir Daily that the issue of the telecom data
will be discussed during the cabinet session, whereby every party will have to
assume its responsibility. “As for me, I will base my position on Benjamin
Franklin's famous saying: He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither,” Mikati added.
Mikati stressed that he supports the security
requirements without violating the people’s freedoms.