DAILY SCOPE: Hariri Puts Rifi into Checkmate, Lebanon in Istanbul Summit Today
Local Editor
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:
AS-SAFIR:
Internet: New Suspects...Infiltration Pressure...Possible Violation
AN-NAHAR:
Lebanon before Decisive Decision in Istanbul Summit
AL-AKHBAR:
New Officers in Internal Security Arrested
AL-BINAA:
Assad Elections: Part of Our War on Terror, Reassurance the War Has Failed
Editorials of Lebanese newspapers on Thursday focused on the illegal internet scandal that has been unraveling during the past month, and discussed the financial corruption scandal exposed in the Internal Security Forces, where new names involved in the cases have been uncovered.
According to the papers, security sources revealed that new suspects are involved in the two cases, and assured that the "Israeli" entity is also involved in breaching the network for espionage.
Also, the dailies shed light on the results of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit which starts to convene today in Istanbul, and touched on the ongoing rift between head of the Future Party Saad Hariri and resigned Justice minister Ashraf Rifi, considering that Hariri has started to tell Rifi "Checkmate".
AL-AKHBAR: Hariri to Rifi" "Checkmate!"
The Lebanese daily al-Akhbar on Thursday tackled the widening gap between head of the Future Party Saad Hariri and the Justice Minsiter Ashraf Rifi who had presented his resignation earlier last month, as the former assured that Rifi is gone without return to the government, as if Hariri was addressing Rifi with the words "Checkmate!"
March 14 sources told the newspaper that Hariri rejects discussing the return of Rifi to the Council of Ministers, considering that the Justice Minister has left to no return. Also, the sources pointed out that Hariri did not accept Rifi's resignation not because he is hesitant about the step, because he does not want to provoke the Christians in the country who consider that accepting a minister's resignation is part of the President's authority.
On the other hand, Rifi and during a televised interview on Wednesday seemed to be escalating his stance, reported al-Akhbar.
"In an interview with MTV channel, Rifi seemed to be escalating his stance as he considered that "Hariri will regret his nomination of head of the Marada Party Suleiman Franjieh for presidency."
Rifi, according to the paper, seemed to dissociate himself completely from the Future party, pointing out that he rejects being part of a "totalitarian" party.
AN-NAHAR: Lebanon to Declare Decisive Stance in Istanbul Summit
Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam will head a delegation to Istanbul today to take part in the 13th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. According to an-Nahar newspaper, the delegation includes ministers Jebran Basil, Ali Hassan Khalil, Akram Shohayeb and Mohammad al-Mashnouq, who will all meet with the princes of Qatar and Kuwait on the sidelines of the summit.
Nevertheless, the time of Salam's meeting with the Saudi King Salman bin Abdel Aziz has not been declared yet. Moreover, the newspaper reported that the speech Salam will deliver before the summit has been amended, mainly due to the general atmosphere of the summit which denounces the "Iranian intervention" in the region. Hence, the paper pointed out, "Lebanon's stance will be clear and decisive."
On another note, an-Nahar daily reported that UN Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag and French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault have discussed the challenges that Lebanon is confronting. The meeting, according to the paper, took place on the eve of a visit by French President Francois Hollande to Beirut.
Furthermore, the paper said that the two conferees called on Lebanese officials to overcome their differences and elect a new president. Ayrault assured the importance of a swift "election of a president and the normal functioning of the institutions."
Since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014, Lebanon's top post has been empty, which means the country has been without head of state for around two years.
AL-JOMHOURIA: Zaydan's Assassination Result of Internal Disputes in Camps
A Lebanese high-ranking security source told al-Jomhouria newspaper "The security breach in which the Fateh official Fathi Zaydan was assassinated and based on all the given data assures that the operation was a result of internal disputes. The source said that "the Liberation Organization and Coalition should tighten their grip otherwise the reciprocated liquidation will continue."
On the same topic, the source told al-Jomhouria daily "there is no reason for panic and fear in terms of the latest events taking place in Palestinian camps," assuring that what has happened is a result of shortcomings by Palestinian officials who should take a decisive decision in preserving the security of the camps in Lebanon.
An explosion in the southern Lebanon city of Sidon on Tuesday killed Palestinian Fateh movement official Zydan, who is responsible for the Mieh Mieh Palestinian camp in Sidon. Ain al-Hilweh witnessed skirmishes between rival Palestinian and extremist factions over the past few weeks, and has been repeatedly rocked by gun violence and grenade attacks.
It is home to a number of extremist militant groups such as Fatah al-Islam and Jund al-Sham, both considered extremist and terrorist groups in Lebanon.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
