Lebanon’s Arabic press digest – Feb. 13, 2012

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

An-Nahar

Renewed calls for an arms-free Tripoli

Aoun: Hellish alliance between Sleiman and Mikati

Despite a cautious calm that returned to Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli on Sunday amid measures by the Lebanese Army, fears mounted that fighting in the area would resume unless a thoroughgoing settlement is reached to prevent the situation from exploding once again.

Shocking television footage of the fighting has left a negative impression of the government, the state and security services.

Fighting has also increased complications for the government, which is now forced to deal with the problem as, according to the sources, it is no longer possible to go too far with “excessive” Cabinet disputes, especially as these difsputes have caused government paralysis and the suspension of Cabinet meetings.

Meanwhile, An-Nahar has learned that the Foreign Ministry has in recent days received a letter from Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon confirming his intention to renew the mandate of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for another three years.

Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun launched a fresh, vehement attack on President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, describing their alliance as “hellish.”

Sleiman, Aoun said, “is playing the ministers’ role in supporting the prime minister.”

“Government performance is aberrant and it is within our goals to address any abnormalities,” he told Al-Jadeed television channel.

As-Safir

Berri observes … Mikati grows more stubborn … Aoun attacks

While the Lebanese army has been able to halt the clashes in Tripoli through drastic military intervention, the exchange of political fire continued violently on the various fronts as the parties involved held fast to their positions.

Perhaps one could say that the problem grew more intractable as it transcended the government dispute over public appointments after clashes intensified between MP Michel Aoun on one hand and President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Nabji Mikati on the other.

Meanwhile, the “knot”– Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas – has gotten worse, with Sleiman hinting that he may sack him or give him another Cabinet portfolio over his refusal to sign transportation allowances.

Aoun responded by threatening to overthrow the entire government in the event Nahhas was targeted.

Al-Liwaa

Calm returns to Tripoli … the city’s [Muslim religious] scholars call for protecting citizens from weapons

Mikati wants transport allowance signed first … Aoun: Nahhas’ sacking may lead to government collapse

Calm returned to Tripoli, but the government crisis still rages, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati – who has just returned from an official visit to Paris – insisting that the Labor Minister sign the transport allowance as a goodwill gesture to resume Cabinet meetings and urging MP Michel Aoun to reconsider the Cabinet’s agenda and coordinate with his ministers regarding the appointment of Christian public figures.

High-ranking sources said all eyes are turned to the possibility of launching an initiative to narrow the dispute, or to find a mechanism to allow the resumption of Cabinet meetings based on the notion of “no winner, no loser,” pointing to Mikati’s statement in which he said “in the end, we will reach a solution.”

Starting Monday, Mikati is expected to be hold separate meetings with President Michel Sleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the outcome of his Paris visit, the weekend clashes in Tripoli and a roadmap for the resumption of Cabinet sessions.

In parallel with the Lebanese Army’s measures, north Lebanon [Muslim religious] scholars met at the invitation of Mufti of Tripoli and the North Sheikh Malek Shaar to discuss the situation in light of the traumatic events in Tripoli.

The scholars urged the state to protect its citizens from weapons.

They also called on the various political parties to cease supporting anyone who violates national security or causes instability.