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.
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun told
Al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday that "counter-conditions imposed by some Lebanese leaders are hindering the formation of a new government.
He called on Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam to hold another round of consultations to facilitate the formation of the new government the soonest possible.
MP Aoun said that the presidential race has started, adding that the Lebanese President must solely be elected by Lebanese leaders.
On another note, MP Aoun noted that the relationship between the Free Patriotic Movement, Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah "needs to be reconsidered" on several levels.
General Security Chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim told
As-Safir newspaper on Thursday that his latest meeting with Syrian President Bachar al-Assad tackled the file of the two abducted bishops.
He also noted that President al-Assad expressed his readiness to deploy his utmost efforts for the release of the two kidnapped bishops.
As for the fate of the Syrian female detainees in Syrian prisons, Ibrahim said that the case "is closed", adding that the release of the Lebanese hostages in Syria's Aazaz was not linked to the release of the Syrian female detainees.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told
As-Safir on Thursday that Tripoli's residents "are suffering", adding however that they are adamant "on adhering to state institutions."
He also noted that he contacted President Michel Sleiman and both agreed on holding a meeting for the security leaders at the Baabda Palace to tackle the deteriorating security situation in Tripoli.
In this context, leaders of Tripoli axis told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday that "the battle has not yet started in the city", adding that the current incidents in Tripoli are just "minor clashes."
Head of Bcharreh municipality Antoine Tawk told
An-Nahar newspaper on Thursday that the recent dispute over the construction violation is "not political", adding that Security Forces are implementing the decisions of caretaker Minister of Environment Nazem Khoury.
He also expressed Bcharreh municipality's readiness to protect the Cedars Forest, noting that the municipality fully coordinates with the Ministers of Education, Environment and Agriculture in this regard.
According to the Daily, Tawk concluded by asserting that all construction violations will be removed in the northern town of Bcharreh.
Diplomatic sources told
An-Nahar newspaper on Thursday that Lebanon will not attend the Geneva 2 conference which will be tackling a solution for the Syrian crisis.
The same sources noted that such a decision comes in harmony with Lebanon's self dissociation policy.
According to the Daily, Lebanon will notify its decision to United Nations-Arab league envoy Lakhdar Brahimi who will be visiting Lebanon on Saturday.