Press Digest for Saturday December 21, 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.

• President Michel Sleiman "will not form fait accompli government"-sources

Sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that contacts are still ongoing to form the new government, slamming any reports stating that President Michel Sleiman will form a "fait accompli" cabinet.

Same sources added that President Sleiman is deploying his utmost efforts to reach a common ground with the Lebanese leaders over the new cabinet.

According to the Daily, the sources concluded by saying that the International community wishes to spare the country the security chaos that might erupt in case a new cabinet is not formed in Lebanon.

• Israel attempts to impose maritime border with Lebanon-sources

As-Safir newspaper quoted the Hebrew daily Yediot Ahronot on Saturday saying that Israel is attempting to impose maritime border with Lebanon.

According to the Lebanese daily, President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that that Israel's drawing up maritime border is "negligible" since it is "just ink on paper".

This as caretaker Minister of Water and Energy Gebran Bassil told the daily that Lebanon will not accept to usurp the Lebanese territorial water on maps as well as in reality.

• Caretaker Minister Charbel: No hand grenades, rockets found during Roumieh prison tour

Caretaker Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel told Acharq al Awsat newspaper on Saturday that the prison cells of Islamist inmates were searched during the tour on Roumieh prison.

He also noted that sharp instruments were confiscated, denying reports stating that rockets and grenades were found in the prison cells.

Charbel concluded by stressing that search operations will be held on a weekly basis, adding that the prison is not a place of "punishment", but a place to "reform" inmates.

• March 14 alliance suggests to hold dialogue with Iran-sources

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Saturday that March 14 alliance suggested to hold a dialogue with Iran and the world powers, adding that the alliance did not obtain any response from their sides.

The sources added that future bloc MP Fouad Siniora sent a letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in which he requested from Iran to adopt a new policy in Lebanon which respects Lebanon's commitments to the international resolutions, mainly the 1701 resolution, however he did not receive any response from the Iranian president.