Press Digest for Friday January 10, 2014

3^min

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.

Caretaker Min. Bassil calls for understanding to form new cabinet

Caretaker Minister of Energy Gebran Bassil stressed on Friday that the March 8 forces are dealing "in a positive way" with the cabinet formation process, and said: "We call for understanding in order to form a new government in which all parties are represented and which is capable of averting impending threats throughout this phase".

"We prioritize the formation of a new cabinet," Bassil told As-Safir newspaper, calling for partnership among the Lebanese parties.

Kataeb party leader Gemayel says contacts underway with President Sleiman, LF, Future bloc

Kataeb party leader Amin Gemayel told An-Nahar daily on Friday that contacts are underway with the Future bloc, the Lebanese Forces and President Michel Sleiman.

"We had always been asking for expediting the formation of a new cabinet and we preferred a political government in which all parties are represented ," Gemayel said.

In a question directed at Gemayel over whether the March 8 coalition had discussed the 8-8-8 cabinet formula with the Kataeb party, he stressed that the March 8 forces did not contact them nor did they tackle the said government formula, adding that contacts are ongoing "in an indirect way".

PM-Designate Salam to mull formation of neutral cabinet if positive signs fade- sources

Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted sources close to Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam as saying that the latter will wait until Tuesday and then he will mull other government formulas, most probably the neutral cabinet, "if there won't be positive signs regarding the 8-8-8 government formula".

"The timeframe for the formation of a new cabinet is not open-ended," sources close to Salam quoted him as saying, adding that he must find another formula should the leaders fail to agree on a political cabinet in which all parties are represented.

Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif to visit Beirut on Monday

Al-Hayat daily quoted political and official sources as saying on Friday that Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will visit Beirut on Monday and will meet with President Michel Sleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam as well as political leaders.

"Discussions will tackle Lebanon's internal political crisis as well as the formation of a new cabinet," the daily said.