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 an unidentified person riding a motorcycle, stopped outside the army barracks in Sidon and aimed a weapon towards the military base.
His operation was hindered when a guard fired gunshots in the air. The gunman then fled to a nearby neighborhood.
The incident took place last weekend and the investigations did not reveal the person’s identity.
Al Akhbar Newspaper said on Saturday that March 14 General Secretariat reported that LF Chief Samir Geagea and Kataeb President Amin Gemayel will not be delivering speeches during the annual commemoration of the martyrdom of former PM Rafik Hariri.
According to the Daily, the March 14 figures who are expected to deliver speeches on this occasion are former PM Saad Hariri, MP Boutros Harb and members of March 14 General Secretariat.
Sources told
Al Joumhouria Daily that Hezbollah understands PM Najib Mikati’s position regarding the Bulgarian statements accusing Hezbollah of carrying out the bombing on a bus in the Black Sea city of Burgas that killed five Israeli tourists in July 2012.
PM Mikati has previously announced that Lebanon is ready to cooperate and hand over the suspects who are involved in the incident.
According to the sources, Hezbollah considers that Miakti’s position creates a balance inside the cabinet and ensures its stability.
In this context, circulated information reported that Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will deliver a speech soon, in which he will tackle the Bulgarian accusations.
In an interview with
Al Akhbar Daily, LF MP Joseph Maalouf announced that he will not be running for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Maalfouf said that his decision is based on a self-assessment evaluation after which he discovered that he only achieved 40% of his electoral program, stressing that LF Chief Samir Geagea was surprised by this resolution and tried to convince him to change his mind.
Maalouf added that his political inclinations remain the same, emphasizing that he had hoped for better results when he first entered the parliament.
Al Joumhouria Daily reported on Saturday that General Security Chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim informed President Sleiman that the file of the defected Syrian officer Mohammad Tlas is complete.
According to the newspaper, the file will be referred to the competent court, to later interrogate Tlas about his involvement in the kidnapping of the Lebanese pilgrims in Syria’s Aazaz by Syrian rebels.
The
eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped on their way back from Iran by
insurgents hoping to use them for a prisoner swap on the 20th of May 2012.
Only two have so far been released.