Press Digest for Sunday December 08, 2013

• President Sleiman to exert tireless efforts as of 2014 to avoid vacuum- sources           

Well-informed sources told Al-Hayat daily on Sunday that the stances of President Michel Sleiman are followed by efforts exerted by numerous leaderships, including the Maronite patriarchate, in order to ensure that all Lebanese deputies will attend parliamentary sessions aiming to elect a new President.           

Sources also told the newspaper that Sleiman will exert tireless efforts, with the beginning of the new year, in a bid to avoid vacuum in the executive power, i.e. to hold the parliamentary and the presidential elections on their due time.       
       

• Military meeting held at Grand Serail after Baabda meeting- sources          

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Sunday that the meeting that was held on Monday at Baabda highlighted the need to provide a political cover for the Lebanese Armed Forces, enabling them to control Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli.             

The same sources reported that a military meeting was held at the Grand Serail under the chairmanship of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati 48 hours after the Baabda meeting.            

The meeting was attended by acting Internal Security Forces Head General Ibrahim Basbous, Lebanese Armed Forces Director of Intelligence Brigadier General Edmond, head of the Internal Security Forces Information Branch Colonel Imad Othman and Higher Defense Council chief General Mohammed Kheir.