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.
Former Prime
Minister Saad Hariri stressed the need to form a government to supervise the
upcoming parliamentary elections that should be held on their constitutional
due date in order to uphold democracy in the country.
Hariri told
al-Liwaa
Daily that the stances of President Michel Sleiman are positive, noting
that the latter is adamant on honoring the constitution and the national
charter.
In this
context, Hariri warned against any action that could lead to further
deterioration, and reiterated his total refusal to the Orthodox Gathering's
draft law since it undermines the national charter and coexistence among the
Lebanese people.
The caretaker
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that “the 1960's electoral law is
still valid”, adding that his Ministry is still working based on the
aforementioned law "that may not be canceled unless the parliament issues
another".
In this
regard, Charbel told the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah Daily that the only way to
stop security tension lays in a political agreement among all the Lebanese
parties, and pointed out that the caretaker government may convene if need be
in order to serve the public interest and the State’s institutions.
Imam of the
Bilal bin Rabbah mosque Sheikh Ahmad Assir accused the Future bloc of
tightening the noose around him, noting that the bloc held contacts with Sunni
leaders and heads of municipalities in a bid to prevent Sheikh Assir and his
supporters from taking to the streets.
“What are the
actions that the Future bloc undertook when we were subject to an armed attack
by March 8 coalition?” Assir asked via the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah.
When asked
about his future political movements, Sheikh Assir said that he will stage further
demonstrations later on since he respects the Christians who should peacefully celebrate
the holidays.
The US State Department has requested
of its nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon citing the security situation as
the main reason, and called on all US nationals who live in Lebanon to be
vigilant of potential hazards that may take place should they stay in the
country.
In this context, a US
diplomatic source told
As-Safir newspaper that the recent US warning is a
routine procedure undertaken every six months, noting that “Hezbollah is
considered a terrorist organization”.
The same source reported
that the US issued its warning in light of the incidents taking place in Arsal,
Sidon and Tyre, mainly after the assassination of Brigadier General Wissam
al-Hassan, pointing out that long-simmering tension and impeding hazards
prompted the US State Department to request of its nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon.