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.
A regional source voiced the discontent and resentment
of his country and people towards the Syrian crisis, stressing that everyone
must be aware of the dangerousness of the daily massacres committed against children and
women. "The Syrian president has not taken into account the
advices of the international community urging him to put an end to violence
and engage in a dialogue “which is the only way out of the crisis that seems to
be expanding."
The source told
al-Mustaqbal Daily on Sunday
that if Assad does not stop the crackdown against his own people, his end will
not be different than that of both the Iraqi and Libyan presidents. “Assad is
no longer in a position where he can lead a country the size of Syria since
he has become the president of a military battalion named 'the Fourth Division,'
more than a head of state.
The source quoted officials as saying that
Assad has recently urged all of his allies abroad to look out for a military
coup which is being prepared to topple his regime. He also called on them to be
ready for the next phase.
The source explained that the establishment
of buffer zones is on the table in the absence of good will gestures offered by
the Syrian regime to its opponents. “The buffer zones will be supervised by the
U.N,” the source said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati will be heading to Riyadh
today to participate in the third Arab Economic Summit held under the
chairmanship of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz.
Prior to his departure, sources close to him told
An-Nahar
Daily that the visit should not be given more importance than it
actually deserves, stressing that it is limited to Mikati’s chairmanship of the
Lebanese delegation due to participate in the summit. “Mikati is not paying an official
visit to the Kingdom,” the sources added.
On the electoral law, the sources expected the political
scene to return to be activated as of the beginning of next week with the return of PSP
leader MP Walid Jumblatt from Moscow and the completion of consultations held
by House Speaker Nabih Berri. Sources close to Mikati said he was optimistic as
to the results of Berri’s ongoing consultations.
An-Nahar Daily
reported on Sunday that MP Walid Jumblatt and Kataeb leader Amine Gemayel will
be visiting the French capital in turn, before the end of this month. They
are expected to be received by French President Francois Hollande who had voiced
his determination to complete consultations with Lebanese officials about the
recent developments in Lebanon and the Arab region. “Hollande is not expected
meet with other Lebanese officials in the near future, after Gemayel and
Jumblatt,” the newspaper added.
Sources from the Syrian opposition told
Acharq al-Awsat Daily
on Sunday that members of Lebanese and Iraqi Shiite organizations including
Hezbollah have formed the “Abou al-Fadl al-Abbas” brigade.
Abu Iyad, the spokesperson for the Military Council in
Damascus told the newspaper that brigades from the Free Syrian Army have clashed
a few days ago with a brigade including non-Syrian Shiite persons from Iran, Lebanon
and Damascus Reef who were guarding the Sayyidah Zainab shrine.
According to the Daily, while the spokesperson for this brigade
announced that his mission is limited to the protection of this site which is
the destination of many Shiites from Lebanon and Iran, other reports stipulated
that their role goes beyond protection.