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.
Informed official sources reported to
As Safir Daily that the US army has requested via the US Embassy in Beirut to be granted a license to build a large telecommunication plant in Lebanon.
According to the sources, the Telecommunications Ministry is reviewing the request to transfer it later to the cabinet to decide whether it should be permitted or not.
In this context, a Lebanese official in a prominent Christian party in the majority told the daily that according to a concerned minister, the Americans have filed this request to the Lebanese state alluding that they have filed similar requests to Arab countries in the Middle East but the reply was negative.
The official urged the Lebanese to study the technical nature of this plant and its usage purposes, stressing that they could include espionage operations that could invade the citizens' privacy.
An-Nahar Newspaper published on Saturday that US Newspaper
World Tribune reported that “leading supporters of the Assad’s regime are leaving Damascus to the Alawite-dominated coast of the Mediterranean.”
The newspaper added that according to diplomatic sources, "hundreds of regime officials, including aides to Assad, were sending their families out of Damascus to the Alawite-dominated provinces because they consider that Damascus was no longer safe from a Sunni rebel takeover.”
In an interview with
As Safir Newspaper, sources following the issue of the Orthodox Patriarchate elections reported that some bishops are calling for postponing the designation of a new Patriarch until "the Syrian crisis results are clear."
The sources added that these calls are an attempt to exclude the moderated bishops, especially those who maintain good relations with the Syrian regime in favor of the bishops who strongly oppose this regime in both Lebanon and Syria.
Sources reported to
As Safir Newspaper that the case of the Lebanese killed in Talkalakh ambush could be resolved and that measures are being taken before the rest of the bodies are delivered.
According to the sources, the number of the victims has to be accurate since there are Syrians, Lebanese and foreigners among the men who were killed in the ambush.
The sources added that once the bodies are identified, the Lebanese state will negotiate the delivery of the second batch of bodies.
In this context,
Al Joumhouria Daily reported that the head of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim informed PM Najib Mikati that the body of a Palestinian national from Nahr el-Bared camp will be transferred to Lebanon after he was killed in Syria in mysterious circumstances.
Al Joumhouria Newspaper published on Saturday that according to sources, Bkerki is making calls away from media spotlights to calm the situation after the latest statements of Marada Party leader Sleiman Frangieh in which he attacked President Michel Slieman.
In this regard, the President of the General Council of Maronite former Minister Wadih El Khazen said in an interview with the daily that Pope Benedict XVI stressed on the necessity of the Christian union in Lebanon.
Khazen added that President Sleiman must be isolated from all political tensions and conflicts since he is the consensual choice of the Lebanese, stressing that presidency is a Christian and patriotic symbol and any attack targeting it affects all parties.