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.
Well-informed sources reported that Saudi ambassador to
Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri will hold a meeting on Friday with former heads of
governments, including Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Prime
Minister-Designate Tamamm Salam.
Former PMs Salim el-Hoss, Omar Karami and Fouad Siniora are
expected to attend the meeting, while former PM Rashid al-Solh is expected to
be absent for health reasons, and former PM Saad Hariri, for being abroad.
Same sources told
al-Akhbar Daily that ambassador Assiri
decided to hold the said meeting whereby several issues will be discussed, including
the Sunni community, the government, the parliamentary elections, Dar el-Fatwa
as well as social and economic issues.
Al-Akhbar Newspaper reported that Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea held a press conference whereby he discussed the Orthodox
Gathering draft law, the hybrid draft law and his relation with the March
14 forces.
Well-informed sources also reported that “Geagea refuses to
admit he had failed the Christian community," while stressing that “he can
make up for the loss through Christian rhetoric."
Same sources quoted LF leader Geagea as saying that "he will
not respond to any call for a Christian meeting to be held in the presence of Change
and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun, not even in Bkerke."
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told
al-Mustaqbal
Daily that the Lebanese politicians are requested to declare a ceasefire in the city of
Tripoli, noting that the Lebanese Armed Forces will be tasked with implementing
the decision later on.
In this context, Charbel pointed out that “ceasefire is so
far holding in Tripoli," adding that the army is fulfilling its duties while
dealing with all problems.
Charbel also said that the Lebanese politicians are exerting
tireless efforts in a bid to find a solution to the problem, pointing out that
the LAF, the security apparatuses and the politicians are taking rational stances
in order to put an end to the incidents taking place in Tripoli.
The political office of the Arab Democratic Party held a
meeting in Jabal Mohsen whereby the party's media official, Abdul Latif
Saleh, told
as-Safir Newspaper that his party has decided to exercise restraint, to
call on supporters to remain calm and let the Lebanese Armed Forces deal with the situation.
It is worth noting that MP
Mohammad Kabbarah, escorted by the Lebanese Army's retired Colonel Amid
Hamoud as well as Sheikhs Bilal Baroudi and Nabil Rahim, held a meeting in Bab
el-Tebbaneh with Tripoli’s leaders whereby MP Kabbarah stressed the need
to remain calm in the city.