Press Digest for Friday June 07, 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.

• Daher: al-Qusayr’s fall is not the end of the revolution

MP Khaled Daher said that the fall of al-Qusayr against Hezbollah and the Syrian Regime does not represent the end of the revolution in Syria, neither is it a sign of the regime’s victory.              

“Those who are celebrating in the Beirut Southern Suburbs will be 'crying' when President Assad will fall,” Daher told al-Anbaa Newspaper.                     

• Alloush: The number of security violators in Tripoli reached 3000

The member of the Future Movement's political bureau, former MP Mostafa Alloush stressed that  a group of people attacked the security forces in Tripoli, calling on the Lebanese Army “to strike with an iron fist” in order to restore justice in the city.                

Alloush told Acharq al-Awsat Newspaper that the number of gunmen in Tripoli reached 3000, noting that “the rioters who confronted the army in the streets are roughly 300 gunmen.”                  

Commenting on whether or not the army is capable of controlling the situation, Alloush said that the LAF do not have many choices and have to assume their duty, stressing that the Future movement will remain firm in its position that no weapons will be allowed in Lebanon other than the Lebanese Army’s weapons.                              

• Soueid: Hezbollah succeeded in connecting Lebanon’s future to that of the Syrian events

The March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soueid stressed that Hezbollah succeeded in connecting the future of Lebanon to that of the Syrian events, and determined the clashes points in the North and in Arsal, in order to create a Shiite border line along the eastern borders with Syria and to open Shiite passages. 

He noted that the latest developments will have severe repercussions on Lebanon, pointing out that it has become impossible for the Lebanese people to accept building a state with Hezbollah.

Soueid told al-Seyassah al-Kuwaitia that Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria has abolished the notion of partnership and placed Lebanon on a dangerous path.                    

• Rizk: Parliament’s special session automatically convened                                

Former MP Edmond Rizk said that the Parliament’s extraordinary session is considered automatically convened since the cabinet resigned.                    

He said that, according to the article 69 of the Lebanese Constitution, “when the Council resigns or is considered resigned, the Chamber of Deputies shall automatically be considered convened in an extraordinary session until a new Council has been  formed and has gained the Chamber's confidence.”                      

In a statement to al-Mustaqbal Daily, Rizk said that the President has to call on the Parliament to hold an extraordinary session in case the absolute majority requests it.