Arab and local press focused on the events in Lebanon and the real changes that these events bring with them to achieve the opposition’s goals and drop all the cheap bargains to start a serious dialogue that solves the crisis.
The newspapers read the current events but were confused concerning reading the next stage, because the opposition started its movement this time without revealing its next steps and its alternative plan.
The press anticipates the international stands concerning the events in Lebanon and the way of translating the promises to the country and its prime minister.
Some papers raised doubts on the possibility of holding the Arab foreign ministers’ emergency meeting.
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| Beirut (Lebanon)
An Event and a Lebanese Trend
Beirut’s Intifada Confuses the Loyalists and their Supporters
Field developments in Beirut continued after the citizens’ intifada which was led by the opposition. The loyal militias, which tried to confront the workers strike with violence, has collapsed.
1. The loyalists seem confused in the light of the continuous field results. Representative Walid Junblat focused on communication with the house speaker to limit the losses, while Sameer Geagea adopted an escalating stand and chaired a meeting in Mirab in the absence of Jumblatt and al-Hariri, announcing his readiness to assume the leadership of March 14 forces.
2. The Lebanese army deployed its forces in the streets and neighborhoods, while the loyal militias submitted to the army and handed their weapons in many areas. The army stressed the neutrality of the military institution and its strong presence to preserve security.
3. Developments will accelerate in all the Lebanese areas. The opposition warned the militias of the Lebanese Forces and the Future in the mountain and the north of any attempt to resist the developments. The opposition calmed down citizens in all the areas while it did not reveal the details of its plan.
4. The political leaders of the opposition from all the sects, and especially the Sunni and Druze proved their strong presence in the street and stressed the rescuing nature of the popular intifada against the US-Israel coup that Jumblat’s government has started.
5. The US announced that it will hold consultations at the Security Council on the developments in Lebanon. The US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice called al-Siniora and stressed support for him while Israel expressed regret concerning the fall of the loyal militias.
6. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Arab league secretary general moved to help the loyalists through the call for holding an emergency meeting for the Arab foreign ministers’ council. Amr Musa heard a strong retaliation from the house speaker Nabih Berri when he threatened to internationalize the crisis in case the opposition does not accept electing the president without conditions.
7. Syria and Qatar announced that the latest developments in Lebanon are an internal affair. Some Arab states, including Yemen support the Syrian stand. Yemen proposed the resignation of al-Siniora’s government and forming a transitional one but Saudi Arabia refused it.
Arab and International Press
The Syrian daily Tichrin said that there no doubt that the US is leading the world now due to its power.
The Emirate paper al-Khalij said in its editorial that when the Palestinians of 1948 commemorate the 60th anniversary of the catastrophe with their brothers in other places they stress the two issues of belonging and identity.
Jimmy Carter said in an article that the world witnesses now a horrible crime against humanity in Gaza.
Al-Bayan said in its editorial that Lebanon drowned in the quagmire of a new schism that threatens the national security of all the Arabs.
Los Angeles Times said that the Iraqi army defeated the militias which are supported by Iran and al-Qaeda organization.
Al-Quds al-Arabi said there is a sectarian schism in Lebanon like the one that exploded in Iraq after the US occupation.
The Saudi paper al- Watan said in its editorial that a number of sides in Lebanon want to keep tension in order to preserve their interests.
Satellite Stations’ News
The Syrian satellite station said that president Bashar al-Assad and the prince of Qatar stressed that the crisis in Lebanon is an internal affair and called for dialogue to solve the crisis.
Lebanese Press
Al-Akhbar said Beirut is calm and tension heads for the mountain. The house speaker waits for a frank agreement on dialogue.
The paper added that the opposition committed a mistake by targeting the media of the Future Trend pointing out that the field developments did not lead yet to political developments.
Ad-Diyar said the decisions that al-Siniora government made shocked the country on the security level and led to clashes in the capital.
As-Safir said what else? Neither the opposition nor the loyalists know what will happen tomorrow.
The paper added that there is no solution in the horizon and some wish the coming of the Western fleets.
Television Stations’ News in Lebanon
Al-Manar said Beirut restored its original identity that Walid Jumblatt and Sameer Geagea tried to kidnap.
The NTV said Beirut is the gift of the army to the opposition in a battle with less loss.
The NBN said Beirut restored its natural life after the army and the opposition controlled the offices of the armed militias.
The OTV said it seems that Walid Jumblatt withdrew his threats to burn the green and the dry.
The LBC wondered if it is the beginning or the end, pointing out that the image is confused and that Hezbollah succeeded in controlling Beirut.
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