Press Digest for Friday October 11, 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.

• PM-Designate Salam meets with Ambassador Hale, tackles local and regional issues- sources          

Well-informed sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday that US Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale held a meeting with Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam whereby they tackled the general situation in Lebanon and the region.        

Ambassador Hale also asked the PM-Designate on the actions to be undertaken during the next phase, raising questions about the Syrian crisis' repercussions on Salam's mission.         

"Talks featured high on the local and regional developments and Salam explained the reasons behind the failure to form a new government," the same sources added.          

• President Sleiman to hold several meetings after Eid al-Adha- sources         

Sources close to President Michel Sleiman told Al-Mustaqbal daily that the President is willing to hold several meetings after Eid al-Adha, noting that a conference is expected to be held in one of the European countries in order to support the Lebanese army and the economic sector.         

"President Sleiman is set to meet with the Ambassadors of the members states of  the International Support Group for Lebanon," the sources said.                 

• Aazaz hostages, abducted bishops may soon be released- sources            

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper that President Michel Sleiman followed up Thursday on the Aazaz hostages' dossier, noting that "efforts exerted in this regard will soon yield positive results".              

For his part, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told the Daily that "a happy ending is drawing nearer," but refused to set a date for the release of the Lebanese hostages.         

Sources also reported that General Security head Major General Abbas Ibrahim had told Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rai that the two abducted bishops, Boulos Yazigi and John Ibrahim, may soon be released.       

• Siniora still adamant on the formation of neutral government- sources           

Well-informed sources told Al-Joumhouria daily that former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora did not tackle during his visit to Baabda, any solutions to the governmental crisis nor to Hezbollah's weapons.          

The meeting held between Siniora and President Michel Sleiman tackled several stances regarding the governmental file as well as the Lebanese situation since Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam was tasked with the formation of a new cabinet.           

The same sources also said that Siniora is still adamant on the formation of a neutral government in which "a neutral technical team shall exercise power based on administrative backgrounds".