Press Digest for Wednesday September 04, 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 says unable to obtain prior approval from any party on government line-up -sources             

Sources close to the Future bloc told Al-Akhbar daily on Wednesday that the bloc confirmed to Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam that "he will not be able to obtain prior approval from any Lebanese party on his government line-up".         

The same sources said the concerned parties include the National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt, Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun as well as the March 8 and 14 coalitions, adding that Salam should impose his government line-up on all the Lebanese parties.           

This as sources close to the PM-Designate quoted him as saying he will not be able to obtain the approval of the political parties if he keeps on holding consultations over all governmental issues.            

• Bishop Mazloum says Church opposes military strike against Syria            

Bishop Samir Mazloum told An-Nahar newspaper that Bkerke opposes the use of force in conflicts between states, mainly after the incidents that took place in Iraq.
        
"World powers lied to the public opinion and invaded Iraq in 2003 under the pretext that the country possessed weapons of mass destruction, only to be revealed later that Iraq had no WMD.            

Bishop Mazloum added that Pope Francis has called for peace in Syria, voicing his concern over the humanitarian crisis.    

• Sheikh Rahim says detentions in Dahiyeh will lead to sedition           

Sheikh Nabil Rahim told An-Nahar daily that citizen Walid al-Rez who hails from the northern city of Tripoli was detained yesterday for several hours in Beirut's Southern Suburbs.         

In this context, Sheikh Rahim slammed such detentions, noting that they will lead to sedition.          

"The implementation of self-imposed security measures in full view of the Lebanese state is unacceptable," Sheikh Rahim added.              

• Lebanese judiciary follows up on the Tripoli twin blasts            

The First Military Investigation Magistrate Riad Abou Ghaida held an investigative hearing yesterday whereby he interrogated, for the second time, Mustafa Houry who was arrested over the twin blasts that rocked Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli.           

Well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the concerned authorities are following up on the case "with accuracy and responsibility", noting that efforts are being exerted in order to reveal the identity of the perpetrators.