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.
Future bloc MP Atef Majdalani said on Saturday that March 14 forces are supporting the Baabda declaration, and are against any foreign intervention in Syria, considering that Hezbollah should withdraw its fighters from Syria.
Majdalani told
An-Nahar newspaper that March 14 forces should discuss with Iranian officials the stances of Hezbollah and should in turn change the Iranian position in order to form a cabinet, pointing out that hampering the formation of a cabinet, and halting the parliamentary work, are all related to the Iranian-based group in Lebanon.
On another note, MP Majdalani noted that March 14 forces prefer extending or renewing the mandate of Lebanese President Michel Sleiman in a bid to avoid any vacuum, adding that these forces will be nominating one candidate for this upcoming entitlement.
Sources close to caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reported that the Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta will be visiting today (Saturday) Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and House Speaker Nabih Berri and will later on head to south Lebanon to visit his country's troops deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
The sources added to
An-Nahar that PM Mikati will hold talks with his Italian counterpart at the Grand Serail and will hold a joint press conference in the afternoon.
The sources added that the Italian PM will express his country’s willingness to hold an expanded ministerial meeting with concerned countries to support Lebanon.
Sources close to Lebanese President Michel Sleiman reported on Saturday that the latter will be taking an important step before the end of his mandate, considering that he had the capability of forming a de facto cabinet however he rejected and is still exerting efforts to form a cabinet that garners the support of all Lebanese people.
The sources added to
An-Nahar newspaper that President Sleiman is studying the constitutionality of his step seemingly since there is no article in the Lebanese constitution that stipulates granting the prerogatives of the president to the caretaker cabinet.
On another note the sources said the campaigns raised by Hezbollah and House Speaker Nabih Berri against President Sleiman and accusing him of attempting to form a de facto cabinet are all false allegations.
March 14 forces are expected to hold on Sunday their first conference on Tripoli during which they are expected to issue the “Tripoli Declaration”.
In this regard, March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator former MP Fares Soueid said the conference aims at reiterating support to co-existence, and national responsibility.
However, prominent officials in Tripoli told As-Safir newspaper that the conference may not be considered as national since is it based on the opinions of one political side.