Press Digest for Saturday June 29, 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.

• MP Jumblatt urges PM-Designate Salam not to form "fait accompli" government

Sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt phone called Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam and urged him not to announce the "fait accompli" government.

Sources added that MP Jumblatt said that such government will have "prohibitive costs on the country amid the security and political tensions."

According to the Daily, MP Jumblatt informed PM-Designate Salam that he will dispatch MP Walid Abou Faour to negotiate with the rest of March 14 alliance to assure the participation of Hezbollah in the new government.

• Speaker Berri will not amend parliament's agenda

Sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday that Speaker Nabih Berri will not backtrack on the parliament's agenda, saying that any request to amend it is considered as a breaching of the legislative authority's powers.

On another note, sources added that MP Saad Hariri wants to drop his commitment to extend the mandate of the Army Commander General Jean Kahwagi.

• PM-Designate Salam: Media reports on ministers in new government inaccurate

Prime Minister-Desigante Tammam Salam told Al-Liwaa newspaper on Saturday that he is still pinning hopes on Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Walid Jumblatt's efforts to form a new government.

He also noted that he is still adamant on forming a "government of national interest", with the rotation of ministries.

He also asserted to the Daily that media reports mentioning names of ministers in the new government are "untrue and inaccurate."

• Hezbollah, FPM divided over extension of Kahwagi's mandate

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Saturday that Lebanese leaders are not in rush to extend the mandate of the Army Commander General Jean Kahwagi.

Sources added that Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah are divided over the extension, since Hezbollah supports it while the FPM rejects it.