Press Digest for Tuesday January 14, 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.

Qatari mediation talks over abducted Maaloula nuns have ceased- sources

Security sources in the town of Arsal told Al-Hayat daily on Tuesday that mediation talks aiming to release the kidnapped nuns of Syria's Maaloula monastery, have ceased, noting that the kidnappers are no longer communicating with the concerned parties.

This as, sources told LBCI that a Qatari delegation met several times with representatives of the kidnappers in the border town of Arsal, adding that the delegation is still exerting efforts to release them.

The same sources said the abductees are calling for the release of a number of Fatah al-Islam prisoners held at the Roumieh prison in exchange of two Lebanese nuns.

Discussions over cabinet formation process entered critical, advanced phase- sources

Sources close to President Michel Sleiman told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that discussions over the formation of a new cabinet "have entered an advanced and critical phase," stressing that a positive atmosphere prevails over meetings held in this regard.

The sources added that the cabinet formation process has been stalled over the failure to agree on details, such as the distribution of ministerial portfolios, the people-army-resistance equation as well as the Baabda Declaration which calls for dissociating Lebanon from the Syrian crisis.

"A common ground and a consensual agreement will be reached," the sources said.

Future bloc MP al-Qadri says March 14 coalition still adamant on ministerial statement

Future Bloc MP Ziad al-Qadri said on Tuesday that political files related to the ministerial statement, more specifically the Baabda Declaration and the people-army-resistance equation, remain on top of discussions, expressing his optimism over reaching solutions.

MP al-Qadri also told Asharq al-Awsat daily that the March 14 coalition is still adamant on the ministerial statement "which should be enforced before the formation of a new government".

"However, the 'other party' says discussions over the said issue must be held after the formation of a new cabinet," he added.