DAILY SCOPE: Extremists Use Banned Chemical Material in Syria War

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Jumblatt Refuses to Isolate Aoun: Opening Naameh Landfill not Possible
Armed Groups Conduct Chlorine Attacks in Zabadani

AN-NAHAR:

Governmental Division Fuels Saturday's Protest
Last Session in Berri's Hands

AD-DIYAR:

Salam Cedes to Settlement after Recognizing that Street Protests will Topple Government

AL-AKHBAR:
Government refers waste file to municipalities

Lebanese newspapers on Friday focusd on the different domestic and regional topics, shedding light on the cabinet impasse and the Syrian crisis. Papers shed light on the extremist groups activity, involving the use of banned chemical material in their missiles hit against civilians and the Syrian army and resistance forces.

Christian-Muslim Summit to be Held Next Week --- AL-JOMHOURIA

The Maronite bishop of Beirut, Boulos Matar, said Friday that a Christian-Muslim summit scheduled to be held in Bkirki next week is aimed at stressing the importance of swiftly electing a president and discussing the demands of anti-government demonstrators.

Matar told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the summit which will be held on Monday will focus on two main issues - the election of a head of state as soon as possible and the demands of the people.
The bishop said all spiritual leaders have been invited to the summit "particularly that the security situation and street protests require a quick solution to the crisis."
Matar hoped that the meeting would limit tension "because we can no longer stand idle to the clashes (taking place) in downtown Beirut."
Monday's spiritual summit in Bkirki will be preceded by a consultative meeting that will be held in Dar al-Fatwa on Sunday.

Several anti-government demonstrations have shaken the Lebanese capital, with protesters expressing their anger at the authorities for failing to find a solution to the waste crisis, which erupted when Lebanon's main landfill in Naameh, south of Beirut, shut down last month.

Terrorist Groups Use Banned Chemical Material in Zabadani --- AS-SAFIR

Well-informed sources told As-Safir newspaper that during the few past hours, and away from the limelight, the Syrian army Units and Hizbullah forces advanced on the four major axes to bring about the decisive battle in Zabadani. Sources told the newspaper that "the decisive decision to quickly end the battle was taken after the armed terrorists used Chlorine and banned chemical substances in the battles during the last week."

Inspectors noted that the takfiri terrorist groups and for the first time dared to use chemical material in areas very close to the Lebanese borders.
Moreover, sources told As-Safir that the banned chemical material was being stuffed inside the B7 missiles, adding that most probably the al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham stand behind this weapon.

No Exclusion to Parties from Political Decision-making --- AS-SAFIR

Head of the National Democratic Gathering Walid Jumblat rejected the exclusion of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun from political decision-making to avoid further tension.

"Aoun should not be shut out. I understand his position from the signature of the decrees and I believe that some of them should be approved after consulting him," Jumblat told As-Safir daily published on Friday.

The ministers of the FPM, Hizbullah, Tashnag Party and Marada Movement boycotted Thursday's cabinet session after Aoun accused Prime Minister Tammam Salam of infringing on the Christian president's authorities in his absence by only garnering the signatures of 18 out of the 24 ministers on around 70 decrees.
The four parties stress that the decrees require unanimous approval.

"We don't need more political tension and we should not boycott each other. On the contrary, we should consolidate dialogue, particularly at this stage," Jumblat added.
Jumblat spoke by telephone with Aoun on Thursday to discuss the political dispute that is crippling the cabinet's work. The lawmaker also stressed his keenness to continue consultations with Aoun, said the source.