Friday 21 January 2011

Lebanese Dailies: No Return for Saudi-Syrian Efforts, Opposition Agrees on Karami for PM Candidate with Jumblatt’s Support

Local Editor

An-Nahar Sources: Jumblatt Made up his Mind, Informed Opposition his Support to their PM Candidate

High ranked sources informed An-Nahar newspaper that MP Walid Jumblatt has made up his mind, and informed the opposition that he will be supporting their candidate with at least seven MPs.

The sources added that the opposition informed former PM Omar Karami of his candidacy, which he accepted.

Furthermore, An-Nahar sources referred that there are bargains that blank papers of two MP from Tripoli will be enrolled during the voting process.

This gives the opposition the possibility of having the majority, or perhaps more than 65 votes.

As-Safir sources: Al Faisal's Stance Refers there Will be No Resumption for Saudi-Syrian Efforts

According to As-Safir newspaper, sources affirmed that the Saudi foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal's stance gives an honest and clear sign that there will be no resumption of the Saudi-Syrian efforts, as a base in solving the Lebanese crisis.

The expected resumption of Saudi-Syrian efforts was decided by the Syrian-Qatari-Turkish trilateral summit held in Damascus earlier this week.

The sources also referred that the Saudi withdrawal from its role in the Lebanese crisis's solution, led to its [Saudi Arabia] way out of its last Arab state it had influence upon, after it lost its influence in other Arab countries, including occupied Palestine and Iraq.

As-Safir stated that the Saudi announcement of its withdrawal from the mediation efforts in Lebanon seemed to approach an announcement of withdrawing from the whole Lebanese situation.

On another hand, the daily added, the Saudi announcement seems to be more on the level of continuing the engagement phase over Lebanon, with the forces opposing what Al Faysal represents, whether in Lebanon or neighboring states.

The daily pointed out that the Saudi step frees the Lebanese opposition from keeping up with the Saudi account, and therefore Saudi Arabia cannot blame the opposition for any political procedure it would adopt in the upcoming days.


Al-Akhbar: Opposition Expects New Promising Premiership Led by Omar Karami

Sources informed Al-Akhbar daily that the opposition's stance was clear since the beginning of the Saudi-Syrian efforts, adding that the same stances were affirmed by Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and General Michel Aoun, to both Qatari and Turkish Foreign Ministers.

The stances stated that the trust has been totally lost in caretaker PM Saad Hariri, affirming that they [opposition] cannot depend on his promise to detach Lebanon from its Special Tribunal, in return for some conditions he demands.

Opposition sources referred it considers it impossible to accept the candidacy of someone who was proven to be in relations with the false witnesses.

The Parliamentary Finance Committee proved his [Saad Hariri] involvement, along with his team, in wasting public finances.

The sources also revealed that a new promising Premiership will be led by Omar Karami, stressing that the opposition's stance is not a maneuver that it will sellout.

On his part, a source from the Free Patriotic movement reported to Al-Akhbar newspaper, that envoys demanding the coming back of Saad Hariri to premiership would surely not allow the Prime Ministry of their country be led by a person who still does not know the difference between a law and a decree.

US Embassy Freezes Communication with Lebanese Mufti after Requesting Connelly to put on Veil during Meeting

Al-Akhbar newspaper also revealed that the US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly requested a meeting with Lebanese Mufti Mohammad Rachid Qabbani couple of days ago.

Dar Al Iftaa figures informed the embassy that Connelly should put on a veil during the meeting. The Dar Al Iftaa's request caused the embassy irritation, leading to the freeze of communication between both sides, the daily reported.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

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