Press Digest for Friday December 20, 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.

• Nasrallah's Friday speech, to tackle Laqis assassination and Lebanese internal issues-sources

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to deliver a speech on Friday during a ceremony dedicated to commemorate the assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander, Hassan al-Laqis.

Sources told As-Safir newspaper that Nasrallah will tackle Hezbollah's stance regarding the assassination, as well as the attacks launched by Takfiri groups against the armed party.

The same sources added that he will also tackle the formation of a new government as per the 9-9-6 formula [9 minister from March 8, 9 Ministers from March 14, and 6 centralist ministers], as well as the presidential elections.

• US Assistant Secretary of State Richard says aid will soon arrive to Syrian refugees in Lebanon

US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C. Richard told An-Nahar newspaper on Friday that aid in terms of infrastructure will soon arrive to Lebanon to be given to Syrian refugees.

Richard also noted that the Lebanese and Iraqi ambassadors to Washington attended a US congress meeting in which they explained the situations of the Syrian refugees in both countries.

• MP Aoun says will not accept to be elected President "to manage Lebanese crisis"-sources

Sources told As-Safir newspaper on Friday that the Change and Reform bloc did not yet start preparing for the presidential elections.

The same sources added that Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun asserted to his visitors at Rabieh that "he did not run for presidency but the Lebanese people asked him to do so."

MP Aoun also asserted to his visitors that he will not accept to be elected President as a means "to manage the Lebanese internal crisis."

• Future bloc MP Fatfat says March 14 alliance's duty is to preserve Lebanon's interests

Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told Al-Seyassah newspaper on Friday that March 14 alliance's duty "is to preserve Lebanon's interests."

He also noted that Lebanon must abide by the International community's resolutions and the Baabda Declaration.

Fatfat stressed that Hezbollah is not capable of taking any decision on its own without referring first to Iran.

Fatfat concluded by saying that the March 14 alliance refuses the formation for a new government as per the 9-9-6 formula [9 minister from March 8, 9 Ministers from March 14, and 6 centralist ministers].