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.
The
former head of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), Major General
Ashraf Rifi said that the city of Tripoli will always be known for its
diversity and coexistence, noting that residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal
Mohsen are both the citizens of the northern Lebanese city.
In
this context, Rifi told
al-Mustaqbal Daily that “no one should ever think that he/she is capable of ruling the country alone”, adding that the incidents currently taking place
in Tripoli are “an extension to the May 7 incidents and the 2007 Nahr
al-Bared events”.
Major
General Rifi also stressed that the deterioration of the situation in Tripoli
is “unacceptable” and should be heeded, calling on Hezbollah, after its “involvement
in the battles of Syria’s al-Qusayr," to work hand in hand with other Lebanese
parties and to let the Lebanese state take decisions in order to maintain
stability.
Sources
close to President Michel Sleiman reported that the President is open to
dialogue currently being held with constitutional institutions, noting that he
is also holding contacts with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-Designate
Tammam Salam and the Constitutional Council in a bid to find the best
approaches to prevent political void and to lay the foundations for democracy.
The same
sources told
al-Mustaqbal Newspaper that “President Sleiman is adamant on
filing a petition against the potential two-year extension of Parliament's
mandate” since it is “unjustified” and may be “unconstitutional”.
On
another note, the said sources quoted Sleiman as saying that a new government
that oversees the upcoming parliamentary elections should be formed in order to
serve the public good and maintain stability.
Maronite Bishop Samir Mazloum stressed that the potential discrepancies between the Head
of the Change and Reform Bloc MP Michel Aoun and the Marada Party Leader MP
Sleiman Frangieh “will not last” nor will they lead to the disruption of the meeting of Maronite
leaders at Bkerke.
Bishop
Mazloum added that the Maronite Patriarchate has a duty to narrow all
differences, noting that it will exert tireless efforts in order to reach a
unified Christian stance in regards to the developments in the country.
In
this regard, Bishop Mazloum told
al-Liwaa Daily that the fiery rhetoric that
flared between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and MP Michel Aoun was “very
regrettable”, calling on all parties to put an end to all disputes that weaken
the unified Christian stance.
Separately,
Bishop Mazloum pointed out that Bkerke and Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara
Boutros Rai did not discuss the two-year extension of Parliament’s mandate,
adding that the Patriarchate cannot justify such an extension.
Future
bloc MP Jamal al-Jarrah told
al-Joumhouria Newspaper that “the March 8
coalition is increasing tension in Tripoli” in order “to justify the deferment of the
parliamentary elections," which entails the extension of Parliament’s mandate.
In
this context, MP al-Jarrah said that Tripoli’s battles reflect the will of the Syrian
regime to involve Lebanon in the long-simmering Syrian crisis, pointing out
that “Hezbollah is attempting to hide the number of its fighters who are being
killed on a daily basis”.