Press Digest for Sunday February 03, 2013

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.

• Hundreds of suspects involved in the Arsal incident     

Military sources reported to An-Nahar Daily that there are hundreds of suspects involved in the Arsal incident, revealing that the LAF identified all of them.         

The sources added that raids will be conducted to arrest them, emphasizing that the violators will be punished.     

The sources completely denied the scenario alleging that the army members who were on duty were not were their uniforms and were riding civilian vehicles.               

• Charbel: Erdogan interfered to release Lebanese pilgrims detained in Aaazaz         

In an interview with the Kuwaiti Daily Al-Seyassah, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel hoped that the Lebanese delegation’s visit to Turkey would contribute in the release of the Lebanese pilgrims detained by Syrian rebels in Aaazaz.            

Charbel stressed that Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari officials are interfering to facilitate the release of the Lebanese detainees.        

On the Syrian refugees file, Charbel said that he’s satisfied with the results of the donors conference that was held earlier this week in Kuwait, warning of security threats if the displaced Syrians continue to flee to Lebanon.       


Charbel added that the case of the refugees needs constant monitoring.    
           

• Berri to refer Hariri’s electoral proposal to joint parliamentary committees     

Sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri told An-Nahar Daily that the electoral draft law proposed by former PM Saad Hariri will be referred to the joint parliamentary committees to be discussed along with other proposals.     

In this context, the sub-committee sources said that the discussions will be resumed on Monday to try and reach a consensus over the hybrid proposal that combines between the majoritarian system and the proportional representation.           

• MP Fatfat: Future bloc proposal to be referred to sub-committee     

In an interview with An-Nahar Newspaper, Future Bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said that the draft law proposed by his political party suggests holding the elections according to the majoritarian system whereas the electoral districts will be divided between 26 and 50.     

Fatfat added that the draft law will be referred to the parliamentary sub-committee tasked to discuss electoral law proposals.