Press Digest for Thursday October 03, 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.

• President Sleiman: Hezbollah is "a main component of Lebanon's politics", must withdraw from Syria

President Michel Sleiman told As-Safir newspaper on Thursday that the International Community supports Lebanon's stability.

He also noted that the country's stability must be strengthened through dialogue and the Baabda Declaration.

On another note, President Sleiman told the Daily that Hezbollah is "a main component of Lebanon's politics", urging the party to withdraw from Syria.

In this context, sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday that discussions are being held between President Sleiman and Hezbollah leadership to end the party's military intervention in Syria.

• Speaker Berri to meet with President Sleiman, MP Siniora over Lebanon's pending issues-sources

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Thursday that Speaker Nabih Berri will meet with head of Future bloc MP Fouad Siniora in the few days to come to tackle Lebanon's pending political and economic issues.

Sources added that Speaker Berri is also set to meet with President Michel Sleiman at the Baabda Palace in this regard.

On another note, a source in March 14 told the Daily that the alliance supports the dialogue table as long as it does not tackle the formation of a new government.

Same source added that March 14 alliance is fully convinced that Hezbollah is hindering the formation of the new government.

• MP Hmadeh: Formation of new government reached "an impasse"

MP Marwan Hmadeh told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday that the formation of a new government reached an impasse, reiterating his support to the formation of "a neutral cabinet."

He also hailed the dialogue table chaired by President Sleiman, adding that discussions will resume "once the appropriate circumstances are available."

According to the Daily, MP Hmadeh said that Speaker Nabih Berri's initiative is "constructive" and can be discussed by the Lebanese factions.

• Caretaker Minister Karami: Security apparatuses must implement security plan in Tripoli

A security source told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday that the latest clashes that took place on Saturday in the northern city of Tripoli "were expected."

Same source added that the city will witness further tensions should the Lebanese security apparatuses fail to deploy in the city to restore peace and order.

In this context, caretaker Youth and Sports Minister Faisal karami told the Daily that the current tensions witnessed in the city of Tripoli are the direct repercussions of Syria's civil war.

He also urged the security apparatuses to implement a security plan in the city similar to the security plans implemented in the Dahieh and Baalbek regions.