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.
Al Akhbar Daily reported on Friday that
following 6 hours of debates, ministers did not agree on the nature of
recommendations issued by the end of yesterday’s cabinet session; while some
said that a Syrian refugee plan has been approved, others said that what was approved
were merely measures.
The Daily pointed out that following 6 hours
of disputes and verbal bouts, some ministers said that the session was useless
and led to a “begging plan.” 4 hours out of 6 were reportedly wasted on a dispute over terminology mainly
between Ministers Wael Abou Faour and Gibran Bassil: Is it a plan or
measures?
The Daily pointed out that the session
witnessed heated debates and verbal bouts mainly between ministers Abou Faour
and Bassil and Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and PM Najib Mikati.
Al
Akhbar Daily reported Friday that a study conducted by a specialized company
affiliated to the Lebanese Forces at the end of last year showed that the
Christian support for the Free Patriotic Movement has fallen sharply in the past
six years. According to the study, this support does not exceed 30% after reaching 68% in 2006.
The
study also revealed that the Christians’ support for March 8 reached 48.2% i.e.
the Free Patriotic Movement, the Maradah Movement, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party
and the Tashnag Party.
Al Akhbar Daily reported that the abductor of the Lebanese
pilgrims in Aazaz Ammar al-Dadikhi aka “Abu Ibrahim” was shot in the leg during a fight in Aleppo
Reef a few days ago. Since then, there has been no news about his whereabouts.
According to the Daily, some said that he was taken to Turkey
for treatment while others said that he remains lost and nowhere to be seen.
Interior
Minister Marwan Charbel told
As-Safir Daily on Friday that there are 2 training
camps for gunmen from the Syrian opposition in a remote Lebanese region,
voicing his fear over the transfer of the Syrian conflict into Lebanon.
Charbel
stressed the importance of the humanitarian dimension in the issue of displaced
Syrians, adding that it involves dangers and complexities that should not be
underestimated.
“Some Arab countries concerned with the Syrian crisis should participate
in fulfilling the refugees’ demands and they are called to assume their responsibilities
in this regard,” he said, adding that the Arab League council should convene
immediately to take the appropriate decisions.
On
elections, Charbel said that he was ready to run for president if he was asked
to, adding “however, being a consensual president won’t mean that I will become
a neutral president or that I will be shared by internal and regional
parties.”
Al Akhbar Daily received a phone call Friday
from Rana Klaylat who is accused of stealing funds from Bank Al-Madina. She
said that she tried to file several lawsuits against those who, according to
her, stole the bank’s funds, “however the Lebanese judiciary refused her
request considering that she was wanted and
absconded.”
Klaylat said that the judiciary is protecting
those involved in this case, threatening that she will resort to the media to
publish names and documents exposing everyone without exception and confirming
that the funds and properties are in the possession of Lebanese and Syrian
political, media and security figures.