Press Digest for Saturday July 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.

• Salam and Hassan Khalil discuss governmental file             

Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam met yesterday (Friday) at his residence in Msaytbeh with caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.                    

Sources close to MP Salam told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that discussions were not related to the distribution of governmental portfolios seemingly since Salam Salam suggested the rotation of main portfolios.                                     

The sources added that MP Salam is adherent to his constants in regards to the new cabinet; thus, reiterating his rejection to the blocking third.                         

• Berri says campaigns against LAF and parliament destabilize Lebanon’s unity                 

House Speaker Nabih Berri expressed on Saturday his astonishment regarding the ongoing campaigns against the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Lebanese parliament, adding that they aim at destabilizing the unity of the Lebanese state.        

In this regard, Berri told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the Military institution has evidence that supporters of Sheikh Ahmad Assir attacked the soldiers, but it did not reveal them since they are linked to the work of the judiciary and the safety of investigations with detainees.                           

Berri praised the stance of caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn as well as the position of the Army Command in regards to the incident that erupted in Sidon’s Abra region between LAF soldiers and partisans of Sheikh Assir, and mentioned that the military institution is investigating this incident and it should not be questioned in this regard.           

• MP Daher: Future Bloc is keen on LAF’s reputation           

Deputy Khaled Daher said on Saturday that the Future Bloc MPs will keep on exerting pressure to know the truth behind the decision of the Central Security Council which stipulates reducing the number of security forces allocated for the protection of officials.                         

On another note, Daher told Al-Liwaa newspaper that the bloc is keen on the reputation of the military institution; however, Daher added that this institution should be held accountable for its errors.            

• Zahra expresses LF’s rejection to Hezbollah’s participation in cabinet              

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said on Saturday that forming a new cabinet may happen soon, adding that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam was not able to form the government 3 months ago.                     

Zahra told Al-Seyassah newspaper that the Lebanese Forces are against Hezbollah’s participation in the new cabinet since this participation indicates that they support hezbollah’s intervention in the Syrian crisis.          

Zahra added that House Speaker Nabih Berri’s insistence on the agenda of the Parliamentary General Authority session shows the latter’s persistence in disrupting the work of the parliament.