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.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that, over the past few days, the head
of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt has been mediating between the
Syrian opposition on one hand, and Hezbollah and the Syrian regime on the other hand, in a bid to allow the
injured fighters in the besieged town of al-Qusayr to be transported to
hospitals in safer regions.
The daily also reported that Jumblatt did make a phone call with
Hezbollah leadership to submit a request from the Syrian opposition calling for
the opening of a safe passage from al-Qusayr, in order to transport 400 injured
fighters, most of them belong to al-Nusra Front.
In this context, well-informed sources said that Hezbollah’s
response was that “everything lies between the hands of the Syrian regime. “We
are committed to the decision of the Syrian leadership,” the party said.
Accordingly, Jumblatt contacted a “common friend” between
him and the Syrian regime, presenting the same request, at a time when the
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has been conducting contacts for the
same goal.
For its part, the Syrian regime replied to Jumblatt saying that “the
armed men in al-Qusayr are aware of the safe passages used by the civilians to
leave the city, and whoever wants to leave Qusayr can use the same road,” ruling
out any possibility of holding negotiations with gunmen.
The visitors of Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri
quoted him as saying that “he was led by his mind rather than his heart, when he
resorted to the extension of the parliament mandate,” noting that amid such a
volatile security situation in Tripoli, it will be hard for the elections to be held and for the candidates to work
normally on their campaigns.
According to
as-Safir Newpaper, Berri pointed
out that the electoral process usually raises the level of challenge in the most calm and
democratic countries, stating that extending the parliament mandate was “an
urgent choice aimed at avoiding the worst case scenarios.”
“Amal Movement and Hezbollah are not worried about the elections in case the constitutional council rejects the appeals presented
to the law of parliament mandate extension, both parties will be ready to
participate in the elections,” Berri added.
On the other hand, while Berri refused to
respond directly to President Michel Sleiman who criticized the failure to hold a
parliamentary session before its regular meeting, sources close to Berri addressed Sleiman by saying: “Mr. President, this council elected you President.”
MP Alain Aoun stressed that there is a possibility that the
constitutional council accepts the appeal presented by the Free Patriotic
Movement, noting that “the appeal was presented in respect to all
constitutional and legal requirements; therefore, there is no good reason to
reject it.”
In a statement to
al-Liwaa Daily, Aoun noted that the
constitutional council is "the last hope to save democracy and end the extension
which was passed in contradiction with the will of the Lebanese people," pointing out that the council stands at a crossroads where it will either enter
history by saving the county, or get affected by the internal political situation.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that the General Directorate of the
Presidency of the Republic received on Saturday afternoon from caretaker Prime
Minister Najib Mikati two decrees, one related to the series of ranks and salaries and
the other related to the draft law pertaining to a number of amendments and fiscal
laws, two months after the cabinet had approved them.
The newspaper added that the directorate will start discussing
the decrees and their compliance with the decision issued on March 21, before
the President signs them and refers them to the Parliament.
In this context, sources close to the President said that
the referral of the decrees should be done by the end of this week.
The Free
Syrian Army's political and media coordinator, Louai al-Meqdad declared that
the number of Hezbollah members who arrived to Aleppo has exceeded the 4000
members.
In a statement to
Acharq
al-Awsat, Meqdad noted that the troops are stationed at the Military
Engineering Academy, and preparing to enter the city of Aleppo.