DAILY SCOPE: Al-Nusra Threatens to Kill al-Bazzal, Gov’t Confused

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Precious Catch for the Army: Arresting Baghdadi's Wife
Ali al-Bazzal's Fate Threatened by al-Nusra...State Confused
Putin and Erdogan: United by Oil, Separated by Syria

AN-NAHAR:

Kidnapped Soldiers File Ignites Mutual Threats
Salam to "An-Nahar": Direct Negotiations Underway

AL-AKHBAR:

Four Constants for Hizbullah Draw Dialogue Limit
Lebanese Soldiers, State Under al-Nusra Knife

THE DAILYSTAR:

Al-Nusra Execution Threat Leaves Hostages' Families in Panic

The crisis of the kidnapped soldiers entered a sensitive phase with the threatening of al-Nusra front to kill the hostage Ali al-Bazzal, which instantly led the families of the hostages to the streets where they locked a gain the Saifi road, after they heard the threats. Their movement came in protest to the confused attitude of the Lebanese government in managing the negotiations. Meanwhile, time has not been set yet for the talks to be held between Future Party and Hizbullah hampered by Fouad Seniora.

According to aS-Safir newspaper, ‘the threats of al-Nusra front to execute the soldier Ali al-Bazzal hit every Lebanese home. The photo of Ali al-Bazzal represents every Lebanese young man in the military or security institution, as these men have joined the army to serve their country and sacrifice the most precious of what they own, their souls."

As-Safir revealed that the Lebanese army intelligence, in coordination with foreign intelligence apparatuses have succeeded in a preemptive hit towards Daesh terrorist movement through arresting the wife of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of the movement at a border crossing, where she was traveling with one of her children with a fake ID.

Meanwhile, al-Nusra had threatened to kill soldier al-Bazzal Monday night if the Lebanese authorities do not fulfill their demands by releasing five prisoners from Roumieh jail including Joumana Hemayed, Sheikh Jamal Daftardar, Imad Jomaa and Sheikh Omar al-Atrash.
Joumana Hemayed, who al-Nusra insist on having released, was formally charged by Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr with providing assistance for Al-Qaeda-linked groups, after she was caught driving a car rigged with 50 kilograms of explosives on the Arsal-Labweh road last February.

Security sources told the daily that four different official sides were following on the case Monday night, without any coordination, noting that if the case was left as such, the Lebanese state would yield and release the most dangerous wanted terrorists from Roumieh prison with 5 released at least every day.

As for an-Nahar newspaper, it noted that the relatives of the kidnapped security forces' member, who blocked the road of Saifi Monday evening, issued a statement in which they said "After that threats of slaughtering security forces' member Ali al-Bazzal increased and kidnappers began using the kidnapped serviceman as if he were a good they are trading, we would like to clarify the following: We have respected and still respect the residents of Arsal, but after that the kidnappers arrived to the present phase and after all of what we have been putting up with (...) we want to let the people know that no one will be safe from our vengeance if something happens to Ali al-Bazzal...

Do not compel us to break the ties and communications..." The relatives also said addressing Hojairy: "Moustafa al Hojairy, know that you are the reason of what will happen."

Political figures, according to the daily, criticized what it considered as ‘government confusion' in dealing with the case of the abducted soldiers, underlining there should be a strong united stance on the case.

Al-Akhbar newspaper, for its part, noted that Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Nader Hariri held a meeting in preparation for the dialogue between Future party and Hizbullah.

Sources mentioned that head of the Future Bloc, Fouad Seniora has demonstrated stiffness over the agenda of talks, insisting that the first clause on the draft of dialogue should be electing a president. According to the source, Berri said four topics are unnegotiable: The Hizbullah resistance against the enemy until the total liberation of Lebanon, the Hizbullah arms, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Syrian file.

The paper noted that head of the Socialist Progressive Party Walid Jumblatt will most probably head the first session of talks.

Source: al-Ahed news