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 published on Saturday that Future bloc MP Mohammad Qabbani has been criticizing the abstention of Beirut residents from participating in the national dialogue.
According to sources close to the Future movement, Qabbani criticized as well Former PM Saad Hariri during private meetings.
The sources say that Qabbani’s campaign against Hariri is related to the latter’s decision to replace Qabbani by Boushra Itani, an official in the Future movement .
In an interview with
An-Nahar Daily, MP Sami Gemayel said that the Kataeb and Lebanese Forces parties completely reject the 60’s electoral law, stressing that the two parties support the proposal of the Orthodox Gathering as long as there is no alternative law that ensures adequate representation of the Christians.
Gemayel criticized those who are opposing the Orthodox Gathering’s proposal and asked them why they did not take any action to protect the rights of the Christians during the past 23 years.
Al Akhbar Newspaper reported on Saturday that according to FPM sources, the meeting that was held in Bkerke last night between FPM leader Michel Aoun, Marada chief Sleiman Frangieh, Kataeb chief Amin Gemayel and Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Rai aims at reiterating the commitment of the Maronite leaderships to the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering.
The sources added that the Free Patriotic Movement will defend this proposal till the end.
In this context, the Daily revealed that the FPM and the LF held phone consultations before the meeting in Bkerke, whereby the two parties stressed that they are committed to the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering.
MP Alain Aoun who boycotted the last session of the sub-committee tasked to discuss electoral law proposals, told
Al Hayat daily that he will be deciding on Monday whether he will be attending the committee’s last meeting or not.
Aoun added that his abstention from participating in the last session pressured the committee to close the minutes of the meetings.
Lebanese Forces sources told
Al Akhbar Daily that LF chief Samir Geagea has abstained from attending the meeting of Maronite leaders in Bkerke for security reasons, stressing that Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Rai was informed about the situation.
According to newspaper, the sources expressed surprise at the statement issued by Bkerke that “contradicts previous agreements.”
In this context, sources reported to the Daily that Geagea did not participate in the meeting because he knew the content of the statement.