Press Digest for Monday October 07, 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.

• Rokenabadi says Hezbollah will not be subject to compromises with the US       

The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Rokenabadi told As-Safir daily on Monday that Tehran is testing Washington's intentions after the US approached Iran in New York on the sidelines of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly.           

Separately, Rokenabadi stressed that "the Iranian support for the Syrian people and leadership is ongoing," noting that the cooperation between Iran and Syria "is in the framework of mutual agreements".           

Rokenabadi also said that Hezbollah and Syria are key pillars of the Resistance, adding that "the group and its weapons will not be subject to any compromises, deals or negotiations with the United States".              

• Salam denies March 8 and 14 coalitions will meet him soon               

Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam denied to An-Nahar newspaper that the March 8 and 14 coalitions are willing to meet with him soon.               

Sources close to Salam also quoted him as saying that he is pleased to be tasked with the formation of a new government, adding however that the concerned parties are seemingly unwilling to facilitate the process.      
            

• MP Fatfat says stalled cabinet formation process takes a toll on Lebanon              

Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told the Kuwait-based Al Anbaa newspaper that the stalled cabinet formation process is taking a toll on Lebanon, mainly on the social and economic levels.                

In this regard, MP Fatfat stressed the need to form a new cabinet that preserves the Lebanese people's interests and shields them from regional and international developments, mainly the conflict in Syria.           

"President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam are required to use their constitutional authorities in order to form a new government based on the Baabda Declaration," MP Fatfat said.                     

• Maj. Gen. Ibrahim visits Damascus to follow up on Aazaz hostages' dossier             

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday that the General Security head Major General Abbas Ibrahim visited Damascus in the last few hours in a bid to follow up on consultations over the Aazaz hostages' dossier.            

The daily also said that Ibrahim wanted to ensure that the Syrian authorities are ready to release the 128 female prisoners, adding that "his visit has yielded positive results".