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.
Sources close to the Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam refused to comment on reports saying that the cabinet will be announced soon, and that Salam prepared a governmental formula that includes 14 ministers.
Meanwhile,
al-Joumhouria Daily revealed the names of the ministers and the sects they represent as follows:
Tammam Salam, Mohammad al-Machnouq and Adnan al-Qassar representing the Sunnis.
Abdel Matlab Hennawi, Youssef al-Khalil, Raed Charefeddine and former minister Ibrahim Chamseddine representing the Shiite.
Marwan Charbel, Joseph Tarabay, Khalil al-Hrawi and Ziad Baroud or Naji Abou Assi representing the Maronites; while the Druze will be represented by Abbas al-Halabi.
The sources added that there is a possibility that Samir Moqbel remains deputy PM representing the Greek Orthodox, but the names of the Catholic and Armenian ministers have not yet been determined.
Commenting on this formula, sources told the newspaper that these names have been mentioned before several times, noting that some of them refused to take part in the cabinet at first, and were replaced by others.
However, the sources explained that the final cabinet proposal has not yet been placed, pointing out that President Michel Sleiman will hold a meeting with Salam as soon as he returns to Lebanon, in order to put the final touches and make the necessary contacts in this regard.
Vicar General of the Patriarchy Bishop Samir Mazloum stressed that Bkerke is against the formation of a fait accompli cabinet, deeming it provocative.
He pointed out that such a cabinet will trigger many negative reactions and will fail to gain the Parliament’s confidence, adding that it will hinder the presidential elections and will pose a threat to the Lebanese community.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria Newspaper, Mazloum recalled the call launched by the Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros Rai to form a national unity cabinet, noting that "if a fait accompli cabinet was the only solution, it should have been formed eight months ago."
Security sources revealed that the DNA tests set to be carried out on the body parts found inside the vehicle that exploded in Haret Hreik on Thursday will determine the attack’s technique, whether it was a suicide bomber or an explosive-laden vehicle remotely detonated.
In this context, well-informed sources told
as-Safir Daily that preliminary information based on examinations carried out at the crime scene reveal that the attack was implemented by a suicide bomber who was driving a Grand Cherokee, which he detonated in the middle of the road, adding that the explosives were placed inside the vehicle’s doors.
The sources noted that the Lebanese Armed Forces had warned against this vehicle and had circulated its characteristics (color, registration plate number, model) in a military note sent to all the security apparatuses 12 days before the explosion.
The sources revealed that the vehicle entered Syria and was booby-trapped in one of the regions under the control of the opposition, not in Arsal, adding that the citizen identified by his initials as R. A. is the last Lebanese national who owned this vehicle, and had sold it to people belonging to the Syrian opposition for 2900 USD three month ago.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that the Saudi Emir of Abdullah Azzam Brigades, Majed al-Majed lies at the hospital’s intensive care unit, under tight security protection, after he was captured by the Lebanese army, stressing that his health condition is deteriorating since he is suffering from kidney failure.
In this regard, the daily revealed the details of al-Majed’s arrest, noting that ten days ago, the US military intelligence sent a letter to the “Strategic Security Department” at the Lebanese Defense Ministry, stating that Majed al-Majed was located in the mountainous region of the northeastern town of Arsal, where he was staying at one of the town's houses for suffering health issues. Two days later, a second letter said that contacts were being held in order to transport al-Majed to a hospital in Beirut to receive treatment, since he needed to undergo an urgent dialysis, the newspaper added.
Accordingly, on Tuesday 24th of December 2013, an ambulance transported the suspect from Arsal to al-Makassed Hospital in Beirut. Shortly after, an urgent US letter revealed that al-Majed was present at one of the capital's hospitals, according to the daily's report.