the news in arabic

(Image of Talabani from al-Hayat.)

Al-Hayat reports that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani traveled to Najaf to meet with Ayatullah Sistani. In a press conference, Talabani said that a new government will be formed with PM Maliki at its head which will not succumb to a sectarian quota system. Talabani also denied the presence of movements that seek to replace Maliki with Iraqi Vice-President Adil abd al-Mahdi. Talabani did not give any specific details on his meeting with Sistani.

The article also says that Moqtada al-Sadr’s jaysh al-mehdi will extend its cessation of activities for six more months.

Al-Manar reports that Druze leader Walid Junblatt’s recent comments on civil war were welcomed by Israel, whose newspapers framed Junblatt’s words as a direct statement to Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah.

Hezbullah is very keen on the idea that Israel is a central force behind internal conflicts in Lebanon. Not necessarily that Israel is propelling the conflict forward, but that Israel is the one party that will benefit from instability in Lebanon. So, when politicians such as Junblatt make very divisive speeches that are seen as encouraging conflict, Hezbullah views this as further helping Israel in their ultimate goal of destabilizing Lebanon.

(From al-Nahar. 1975 was the first year of the Lebanese Civil War.)

(From al-Quds al-Arabi. Setting fire to a match-made cedar tree — a symbol of Lebanon.)

The above two cartoons reflect the prevailing sentiments in today’s coverage of the Lebanese political crisis — that the past few days have witnessed an escalation in the verbal, media battle between political leaders as well as a rise in tensions on the street.

Al-Jazeera takes note of an escalated “war of words” between the Opposition, led by Hezbullah and Michel Aoun, and the Loyalists (aka the “Majority”), with support from Sa’ad Hariri and Walid Junblatt. Some members of the Opposition fear that Loyalists will use the anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri on February 14th to instigate a new civil war.

The most publicized remarks have come from Druze leader of al-hezb al-taqadami al-ishtiraki Walid Junblatt. He said to the Opposition: “You want chaos? (We) welcome chaos. You want war? (We) welcome war. There’s no problem with weapons…we’ll take the missiles from you.” In response to the comments, Hezbullah said that they wish to avoid any type of civil war.

Al-Hayat published a list of details on the people who are currently imprisoned by the US forces at two separate prison camps — Camp Bucca and — excuse the possibly incorrect transliteration — Camp Kruber.

• 20,400 are imprisoned at Bucca; 3,500 in Kruber.
• 80% of prisoners are Sunni; 20% are Shi’a or other groups.
• 300 foreign prisoners.
• 620 prisoners are younger than 18.
• 200 prisoners are exactly 19-years-old.
• Approximately 30 new prisoners arrive every day.
• Average length of time spent in prison is 330 days.
• The youngest age of a prisoner is 10-years-old, the oldest is 80.