Press Digest for Tuesday March 19, 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.

• Minister Charbel: Hezbollah and Amal movement uncovered the perpetrators of the attack                      

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that ten people have been arrested so far for involvement in Sunday's attacks on the four Muslim clerics.                     

Charbel pointed out that Hezbollah and Amal movement cooperated with the security forces to arrest the attackers.                              

• Army Commander Kahwagi: Lebanon faces threats against its security and stability                            

Lebanese Army Commander Jean Kahwagi told As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that Lebanon faced in the past 24 hours dangerous threats against its security and stability.                     


Kahwagi asserted that the Lebanese Army Forces will remain committed to protect the Lebanese people, noting that severe procedures will be taken in the next days to maintain Lebanon's stability and security.  
                       

• Geagea: Sunday's attacks aim to foment a Sunnite-Shiite strife in Lebanon

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that Sunday's attacks aimed at instigating a Sunnite-Shiite strife in Lebanon.                     

Geagea urged the concerned judicial authorities to reveal the circumstances of the attacks, noting to the government's "negligence" in dealing with Tripoli's insurgencies.                     

Geagea also reiterated his demand to extend the mandates of the security and military forces commanders.                                 

• Prime Minister Mikati praises Speaker Berri's hybrid draft law                       

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that Rome's meeting between Patriarch Rai, Prime Minister Mikati and Speaker Berri stressed on the necessity of avoiding the “political and constitutional void”. 
                  
Sources added that Mikati praised Berri's hybrid draft law, stressing that the three officials agreed on the necessity of carrying out the upcoming parliamentary elections on their due time and holding further talks over the hybrid draft law.                              

• Energy Minister Bassil: The Orthodox's Gathering draft law is still an option                              

Energy Minister Gebran Bassil asserted to Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that the Orthodox Gathering's draft law is still an option and will only be dismissed in Parliament .                           

According to the Daily, Bassil stressed that the Change and Reform bloc refuses any postponement of the upcoming parliamentary elections or any extension to the mandate of the current Parliament.