Al Akhbar daily reported that during the past two weeks, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah held several meetings with a number of first grade and central leaderships within the resistance. The newspaper added that the meetings addressed political and security issues as well as the internal party affairs.
Al Akhbar stressed that Sayyed Nasrallah stressed the importance of keeping secrets and spoke about the three Hezbollah members who were discovered by the resistance’s security apparatus as dealing with the U.S. and Israeli intelligence services. Nasrallah voiced his disappointment as to the introduction of the term “insider spies” to the security war between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to Al Akhbar, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled the launching of the water-to-land missile against an Israeli battleship off the coast of Beirut, adding that only four people knew that the resistance was in the possession of such missiles.
The local newspaper quoted Sayyed Nasrallah as saying: “If Israel ever decides to strike in the future, it will do so from Tel Aviv, rather than from the northern settlements. In any future assault, the Israelis will not refrain from using all weapons and means available, unlike past wars.” Al Akhbar added that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah did not fail to mention that the resistance has many surprises that will change the face of the region.
Speaking on political domestic affairs, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has become a secondary issue, underscoring the importance of strengthening ties between Hezbollah and its allies, chief amongst them Speaker Nabih Berri and the Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun.
Sources from Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) told Acharq al Awsat daily that the death of Muammar Gaddafi was the result of a joint intelligence operation between the rebels and NATO.
The sources added that the NATO forces detected Gaddafi’s hideaway before striking. The daily added that when his convoy was shelled and hit by guided bombs, Gaddafi was traumatized and began mumbling incomprehensive words.
According to the rebels, before he was arrested and transferred in an ambulance to a public hospital in Misrata, Gaddafi’s final words were: “What’s wrong, what’s happening?” Other fighters recounted that Gaddafi addressed the rebels saying: “My children, are you killing me? My dear children, I am Gaddafi… I am the leader, what are you doing to me?”
Former PM Saad Hariri told Al-Mustaqbal daily that any person, who abstains from signing a decree that rewards the officers serving their country and grants them their rights, will be undermining the authority of military and security institutions.
Hariri stressed that for him, it is not only about granting competent officers such as Col. Wissam El Hassan their rights, rather it is a matter of granting the states institutions their rights.
The local newspaper quoted Hariri as saying: “President Michel Sleiman along with other officials has the duty to put an end to this extortion.” Hariri added that the opposition will not remain silent towards any injustice that may harm these officers.
A diplomatic source told An-nahar daily that Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi will visit Lebanon on Monday as part of a tour to countries in the region. The daily reported that the purpose of this tour is to explain the truth behind the conspiracy plotted against Iran alleging that the Islamic Republic was planning the assassination of Saudi ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al Jubeir.
The local daily learned about the Salehi’s visit during a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Rukn Abadi and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.
The source added that Abadi conveyed a written letter to Mansour from his Iranian counterpart detailing his country’s official position as to the accusations.
Energy Minister Jibran Bassil told An-Nahar daily that the convulsion taking place within the government clearly shows that it is not a one-sided cabinet.
Bassil stressed that the opinions of March 14 parties are represented in the current cabinet but with different faces, adding that the approaches of the Change and Reform bloc are facing sterner opposition than before.
The local daily quoted Bassil as saying: “More was expected from this government, it let us all down.”
Bassil criticized Hezbollah by saying: “Hezbollah is trying to be impartial by postponing the battles, but meanwhile the fundamentals holding this government together are starting to fall apart. Therefore, Hezbollah can no longer stand idle while mistakes unfold before its eyes. It has to act. The resistance cannot fight the enemy along the borders and refrain from fighting corruption inside [the country].”