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 Thursday that MP Okab Sakr reported last December that the abductors who kidnapped the Lebanese pilgrims in Syria’s Aazaz offered a swap deal to release the detainees in exchange of prisoners detained in Syrian and Lebanese prisons.
The newspaper added that 7 months ago, a “Qaeda delegate”, Jordanian citizen Abdel Malek A. was arrested by the Lebanese security apparatuses while attempting to leave via Beirut Airport. The “delegate” led the security apparatuses to other suspects, including Lebanese citizen Shadi M. and Qatari national Abdel Aziz A.
According to the Daily, investigations revealed how the arrestees operate within the al-Qaeda network.
However, the Lebanese citizen and the Qatari national were later released due to political pressure. Abdel Aziz A. was deported to Qatar and handed over to Qatari authorities while Abdel Malek A. remains detained in Roumieh Prision since May 2012.
Al Akhbar Newspaper reported on Thursday that on the night of December 6th 2012, the Salafists in Tripoli were preparing to attack the neighboring area of Jabal Mohsen but the operation was foiled after the Lebanese Army intervened.
According to the Daily, the planned operation revealed the immense military capacity of the Salafists and the types of weaponry and ammunition they were hiding.
The newspaper added that the news was concealed on purpose to keep Hezbollah’s arms as the main target.
Sources close to President Michel Sleiman reported to
An-Nahar Daily that the president is dealing with the file of the upcoming parliamentary elections according to 4 principles:
1- Conducting the elections on their due time
2- Rejecting the 60’s electoral law
3- Supporting the proportionality law proposed by the cabinet and adopting a revised version if needed
4- Rejecting any law that is not approved by all parties
General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi reported to
Al Joumhouria Daily that he has received the "original" recordings pertaining to the televised conversation between MP Okab Sark and a member of the Free Syrian Army as per the aforementioned MP.
Madi added that the recordings will be transcribed to examine if they
include any felony, stressing that he will be deciding whether to
prosecute Sakr or not according to the given facts.