Press Digest for Thursday October 31, 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.

• Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah, MP Jumblatt adamant on the 9-9-6 formula-sources

Sources told As-Safir newspaper on Thursday that MP Saad Hariri will reject the 9-9-6 formula [9 ministers for March 8, 9 ministers for March 14, and 6 centralist ministers] suggested by Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt.

In this context, MP Jumbatt told the Daily that he will confirm his commitment to the 9-9-6 formula during a TV interview next Tuesday, as well he will tackle the Geneva 2 conference and the Syrian crisis.

• MP Aoun to visit Speaker Berri  to tackle formation of government and oil file-sources

Sources told Al-Anbaa newspaper on Thursday that contacts and deliberations are underway between Rabieh and Ain el-Tineh ahead of Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun's visit to Speaker Nabih Berri to tackle the latest developments in Lebanon.

Sources added that discussions will feature high over the formation of the new government and the oil file.

According to the Daily, a delegation of Hezbollah will visit MP Aoun to discuss the formation of the latest developments in Lebanon and in the entire region.

• Claims that Bishop Ibrahim was killed by Turkish Intelligence are false- sources

Claims stating that the two abducted bishops were killed are false after negotiations were launched between the kidnappers of bishops Boulos Yazigi and John Ibrahim and mediators which include foreign and regional super powers, sources said. 

Ibrahim Ibrahim, a relative of bishop John Ibrahim, told Al-Joumhouria daily that “information revealing that the bishops were killed by the Turkish Intelligence are untrue”.

Sources also told the newspaper that a meeting was held last Sunday between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and bishop Matta el-Khoury. Bishop Khoury noted that the visit aimed to thank Assad for the assistance he offered to General Security head Major General Abbas Ibrahim in a bid to secure the release of the two abducted bishops, and said: “President Assad reiterated his readiness to provide any assistance to facilitate their release”.

• LAF will not allow any security breaches in Tripoli- sources

Military sources told As-Safir newspaper on Thursday that “everyone who undermines the military institution will pay a heavy price, based on previous experiences”.

“The Lebanese Armed Forces will not allow any security breaches by Jabal Mohsen or Bab al-Tabbaneh and will firmly respond to any attempt to undermine security,” the sources said.