Press Digest for Sunday October 20, 2013

The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

• Formation of new government will not soon see light-sources

Sources told Al-Anbaa newspaper on Sunday that the formation of a new government in Lebanon will not see soon light.

Sources added that President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam did not reach a common ground in this regard.

According to the Daily, a meeting will be held between Speaker Nabih Berri and Future bloc head MP Fouad Siniora to discuss the "conditions and counter-conditions" imposed by some Lebanese leaders.

Same sources concluded by saying that the main obstacle in the formation process is the insistence of Hezbollah on the 9+9+6 formula which March 14 alliance completely rejects.

• Qatar pays USD 150 million to abductors of Aazaz hostages-sources

Turkish sources told Al-Liwaa newspaper on Sunday that Qatar held "long and hard negotiations" with the abductors of the Lebanese hostages in Aazaz.

Same sources revealed that Qatar paid USD 150 million to the abductors to release the hostages " all at once."

• MP Khreiss: Lebanon's oil is for all Lebanese people without exceptions

Liberation and Development MP Ali Khreiss told Al-Anbaa newspaper on Sunday that he slams the performance of caretaker Minister of Energy Gebran Bassil in dealing with the file of Lebanon's oil.

He also said that Lebanon's oil is for all the Lebanese people without any exceptions.

According to the Daily, MP Khreiss said that Amal movement and the Free Patriotic movement have different points of views in this regard.