"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper wondered Monday if "al-Asir's sit-in reached a deadlock after the movement proved to be futile in achieving the goal of the resistance disarmament?"

It further quoted well-informed sources as saying that "al-Asir is ready to accept any proposals on the objectives of his sit-in."
"He is ready to conduct negotiations to find the exits, after the ceiling of his demands was reduced in the last hours," "as-Safir" learned.
This came as papers viewed that " the visit by Sidon's business owners to the sit-in over the weekend may lead al-Asir to relocate his movement to another location in the city."

Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that "the concerned authorities are quietly dealing with the issue."
"Things are moving in a positive atmosphere," he added.

In an interview with "al-Binaa" newspaper, Charbel rejected to declare a specific date to end this situation.
"I do not want to engage in timing because the situation is sensitive," the minister added, stating that " contacts continue with al-Asir."

On the security plan, Charbel clarified that "things are proceeding as planned."
Meanwhile, the Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Mohammad Qabbani denounced any road closures and said demonstrators should be allowed to protest as they like, but without disrupting the lives of others.
"I am not with any demonstration that disturbs life in the country. Everyone has the right to demonstrate in the way they see fit for their cause but without getting in the way of people's lives," said Qabbani.

For his part, Head of the Popular Nasserite Movement Osama Saad confirmed that "the arms issue must be discussed exclusively within the framework of a Lebanese defense strategy."
As his followers distributed flowers to passengers returning from the South to Beirut, Saad stated that "this step comes to reassure our choice of resistance."
"We will not allow anyone to make Sidon a platform for targeting the resistance," he vowed.

For its part, "an-Nahar" Lebanese daily reported that "President Michel Suleiman reaffirmed he will not interfere in the negotiation on Sidon's sit-in, and that he commended institutions to take the necessary measures."

Legislative Session in Parliament

On the political level, the Lebanese Parliament is scheduled to meet Monday in an extraordinary legislative session to discuss and approve 33 draft laws.
Among these laws are the controversial extra-spending and contract workers at Electricité du Liban.

Along the two legislative days, the Parliament will attempt to try and open a path for the approval of a draft law regarding public spending for 2012 amid several proposals ranging from one with "March14" comments and the withdrawal of their MPs.

In this context, the majority's ministerial and parliamentary sources told "al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily that "the opposition suffers a critical condition as it is no longer able to blackmail us on extra spending."
"President Suleiman has vowed to sign the spending bill, in case the opposition obstructed it in the Parliament," the sources said.
Similarly, governmental sources assured "al-Joumhoria" daily that "the opposition MPs would not be able to prevent the passage of the draft law, because the "National Struggle Front" MPs aren't likely to withdraw from the session this time."
For his part, the Head of the "NSF" MP Walid Jumblat recommended the parliament Monday to adopt the oppositions remarks on extra-spending.
In an interview with "as-Safir", Jumblatt reiterated that " he has no negative position from the government's bill."

In parallel, House Speaker Nabih Berri considered the "legislative sessions are very important since they will discuss draft laws pertaining to citizens' lives."
"The "Development and Liberation" bloc will vote to both the electricity and the spending bill," Berri told "as-Safir".

He further acknowledged that "after the parliamentary sessions, the government and the parliament's main priorities should turn to the state budget and the petroleum issue."
"It was important not to link any matter to another," Berri added.
The House Speaker also urged the government to work faster in addressing the citizens' affairs.

"It is required is that the government works at a faster and better pace," Berri told "al-Joumhoria".

Moreover, "an-Nahar" learned that "Berri moves on with the draft aiming to grant hourly-wage workers at EDL permanent employee status."
"However, the "Change and Reform" bloc ministers, spearheaded by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, oppose this draft-law and have initiated contacts in this respect with several of the bloc's allies a few days ago," the daily mentioned.


Source: Lebanese dailies, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org