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.
National
Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt called on all "wise men" to exert
efforts to clinch a way out of the current crisis.
Jumblatt
stressed to
As-Safir newspaper on Monday the necessity of carrying out
the elections on their due time, ruling out the idea of extending the
current Parliament's mandate.
Jumblatt expressed his optimism
regarding finding a consensual formula, alerting that rejecting consensus means accepting Lebanon's destruction.
Al
Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday that Chadi Mawlawi was arrested on
Sunday with his wife, at an LAF checkpoint in the region of the Al Awli
river, after finding smuggled weapons in his car.
The Daily noted that Mawlawi was released soon after following "high profile" interventions.
Political
sources reported on Monday to
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that Hezbollah is
putting the FPM Leader MP Michel Aoun at the forefront of defending the
Orthodox gathering draft law.
Similarly, sources added to the Daily that the
Future bloc is also placing the National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid
Jumblatt and President Michel Sleiman in the front-line of voicing rejection for this law.
Sources
told
Al-Akhbar newspaper that the organizational procedures for
finalizing the
Al-Nusra Front project in Lebanon have been achieved;
however the declaration awaits the appropriate political circumstances.
In
this context, the newspaper added that Sheikh Salem Rafei is highly
respected among the groups involved in this project and his power has
exceeded those of Dai al-Islam Shahhal and Sheikh Omar Bakri Fostok.
Lebanese
Forces Chief Samir Geagea asserted to
An-Nahar newspaper that he is
relieved with the consensual efforts exerted by the President Michel
Sleiman and PM Najib Mikati in regards to finding an electoral draft law
that "serves everyone".
Geagea praised the contacts that both officials are carrying out with Speaker Nabih Berri and Future Bloc head Fouad Siniora.
On
another note, Geagea expressed his concern over the recent declarations
pertaining to Hezbollah’s military intervention in the Syrian crisis.
Political
sources reported to
Al-Anbaa newspaper on Monday that Speaker Nabih
Berri is expected to refer the Orthodox Gathering draft law to the
Parliament’s General Authority.
The sources added that President
Michel Sleiman will challenge the draft law in the constitutional
council seemingly since Berri "is implementing Hezbollah's orders".
The
sources noted that should the Orthodox Gathering draft law be passed
and then appealed by President Michel Sleiman, the risk would be
higher since there will not be an effective electoral law and no time to ratify a new one.