DAILY SCOPE: Lebanon to Collapse without President, al-Qaeda Sends Military Aid to Mansour’s Militias

Local Editor

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:

Salam Warns from Collapse...Berri Will Not Start Initiatives

An-Nahar:

Second Month on Catastrophe

Fight over Tenders... Tuesday is the 'Final Date'

AD-DIYAR:

Naameh Landfill Could Be Reopened

Nasrallah: Our Presidential Candidate is Aoun... Hizbullah Hasn't Yet Interfered Between Aoun, Berri

AL-AKHBAR:

Wastes...Await ‘Political Broth'

The Daily Star:

Protestors and Police Clash over Trash

Lebanese newspapers on Thursday dealt with different domestic and regional topics, most importantly the lingering waste management crisis, the abducted soldiers, as well as the cabinet and presidential impasse. On the regional level, papers highlighted the latest developments in Syria and Yemen.

Possible Solution to Cabinet Crisis: Maj. Gen. --- AL-JOMHOURIA

General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim said that he discussed with Free Patriotic Movement Chief MP Michel Aoun ways to resolve the cabinet crisis.

Ibrahim told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday "The door is not closed. There is a possibility to find a solution."

The army official said he did not discuss with Aoun on Wednesday any specific proposal, noting "we are discussing all ideas and possibilities."

He underscored that he has not stopped communications with other officials to end the current crisis, which erupted when FPM officials said they would not approve any decision in the cabinet if ministers do not first agree on its decision-making mechanism.

At the beginning of August, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel signed decrees to extend the terms of Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Kheir, the secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council, by one year each.

The step was taken despite vehement opposition from Aoun, who favored the appointment of new officers for the posts.

Meanwhile, the FPM leader warned Qahwaji against putting the military in confrontation with protesters, blaming him for "politicizing the Army to serve politicians."

Al-Joumhouria newspaper also said that Speaker Nabih Berri, the head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Seniora and Progressive Socialist Party Chief, lawmaker Walid Jumblat, also held a meeting on Monday to discuss ways to activate the cabinet's work.

Short-Term Solution Required For Waste Crisis --- AN-NAHAR

Well-informed sources told An-Nahar newspaper that there is no way out but resorting to a short-term solution for the waste crisis in order to get rid of the tons of wastes laying on the streets of Lebanon, especially because settling on a bid and putting it in action will eventually require a lot of time.

The sources pointed out that the government should take a decisive decision to distribute the wastes on several landfills that have been assigned by the environment ministry, and make sure the process does not affect ground water.

Drifts of unrecycled rubbish had piled up on Beirut's streets due to the closure of the city's landfill on July 17th. Although smothered in white powder, the rotting rubbish stank, attracted flies, mice and rats, and was a serious health hazard at a time when tourists and tens of thousands of Lebanese expatriates flooded the country.

The existing landfill is full to capacity; nothing has been done to develop new sites, and villagers living in mountainous areas reject the creation of new landfills in their neighborhoods. The Beirut municipality has called on the government to authorize the hiring of specialized firms to dispose of the waste abroad.

Negotiations Resume with Terrorist Group to Release Army Soldiers --- AL-JOMHOURIA

Negotiations between General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim and the so-called Islamic State extremist group have resumed so as to reach a deal on the release of the captive servicemen, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported Thursday.

The daily said the talks resumed around two weeks ago through a mediator after a hiatus of more than six months in the negotiations aimed at agreeing on a prisoner swap. Ibrahim is waiting for the mediator's return from abroad to hear an answer on his demands from the "ISIL", al-Joumhouria noted.

The families were scheduled to meet with the hostages held by the "IS" on Saturday and Tuesday on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal but they failed to do so due to reasons related to the terrorist group. A number of soldiers and policemen were kidnapped by "al-Nusra Front" and "ISIL" gunmen in the wake of clashes in Arsal, where a few have been released, four executed and the rest still held captive.

State Would Collapse if Presidential Palace Remains Vacant --- AS-SAFIR

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has warned that the state would "collapse" if Baabda Palace remained vacant and the cabinet crisis was not resolved, As-Safir daily reported on Thursday.

"I have told Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that Tehran's lauding of the Lebanese government and its head should be interpreted with bringing a consensual president or else Lebanon would collapse and be destroyed," As Safir quoted Salam as saying to his visitors on Wednesday.

Zarif made a two-day visit to Beirut last week. During his visit, Zarif highlighted on Wednesday the importance of dialogue in overcoming crises, stressing that Tehran is prepared for "all forms of cooperation" with Lebanon to help it achieve growth.

He declared during the second day of his trip to Beirut: "We do not meddle in internal Lebanese affairs and neither should other countries."

"I won't allow the same scenarios to be repeated in the cabinet," said Salam about disputes among ministers and their failure in the last session to reach any decision.

Salam did not invite the cabinet to convene this week, saying he was giving consultations time to resolve the crisis, which erupted over the insistence of the Free Patriotic Movement to first discuss the government's decision-making mechanism.

Al-Qaeda Sends Military Aid to Mansour's Militias --- AL-AKHBAR

Military sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that "the extremist group al-Qaeda has sent military equipment and vehicles two days ago that it had stolen from the military camp "27 Mika Brigade" and other camps to the militias loyal to fugitive President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in an attempt to fortify them and support them in face of the popular committees and the army, particularly in Ma'reb.

The source assured that the supplies included heavy weapons, adding that the coalition forces had directly threatened the army leadership from blocking the supplies.

Source: al-Ahed News, Edited by webiste team