Baabda palace is gearing up to welcome Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday for summit talks with President Michel Suleiman aimed at warding off an "explosion" in Lebanon.
Informed sources told An Nahar daily in remarks published Wednesday that the importance of the visits of the Arab leaders, including Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, lies in their attempts to "ward off an explosion whose shrapnel could reach the entire region because the Lebanese issue is the hottest during this stage."
The sources said Abdullah, Assad and Suleiman will discuss during their summit talks all issues linked to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon although efforts are mainly aimed at finding an atmosphere of calm and not to interfere in the operations of the court.
Political sources following up the king's visit to Beirut said the importance of the trip lies in its timing particularly that Lebanese politicians are rattling sabers over the indictment next fall.
"Things will be clearer on the course of the court and the indictment after the visit," the sources told An Nahar.
Meanwhile, reports said that Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa postponed his trip to Beirut on Friday to pave for a successful visit for King Abdullah.