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.
Well-informed sources revealed to as-Safir Daily that the mediation led by the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt resulted in the approval of MP Saad Hariri and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam on a governmental formula, based on which the four sovereign ministerial portfolios will be equally distributed between March 14 and March 8 coalitions, by granting March 8 the Finance and Foreign Ministries, while the Defense and Interior Ministries will be granted to March 14 forces.
The sources said that Hariri approved this proposal on Thursday evening, agreeing therefore on allowing the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun to name the foreign and the education ministers, Speaker Nabih Berri to name the finance minister, while the Future Movement will name the interior minister and March 14’s Christian parties will choose the defense minister.
In this regard, the same sources noted that Berri, Hezbollah and all the components of the government approved this proposal, but Hezbollah insisted on waiting for Aoun’s response.
However, caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil rejected this formula, via LBCI, noting that the Change and Reform bloc will reject any proposal that does not grant him the Energy Ministry.
In this context, the sources pointed out that President Michel Sleiman advised PM-Designate Tammam Salam to discuss this issue with Aoun in order to find a solution, since he cannot cover any attempt deemed by Bkerke as “violation to the rights of the Christians."
Member of the Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc MP Antoine Zahra stressed that his party will not take part in a government with their rivals without reaching minimum agreement over the Baabda Declaration, which does not only stipulates Lebanon’s disassociation from regional conflicts, but also calls for passing a defense strategy based on President Michel Sleiman’s proposal and placing all weapons within Lebanese legitimacy.
In a statement to an-Nahar Daily, Zahra explained that once a political agreement is reached in this regard, they will participate in the government, noting that the upcoming cabinet will not find any solution.
“If Hezbollah keeps on dragging Lebanon into regional wars, we will not be able to be its partners in one authority,” the MP said.
On another note, Zahra stressed the importance of holding the presidential elections on time, as a legal and constitutional right to all the Lebanese people, especially the Christians.
A security source denied to as-Safir Daily reports stating that there are obstacles delaying the Saudi grant from being implemented, noting that the Lebanese Armed Forces will determine its priorities that are not only limited to the armament but also to technical and logistical matters.
On another note, the source told the same newspaper that recent security reports say that the country is heading toward “a very dangerous stage”, which may require the security apparatuses to raise their alert levels, since the security events have spread across the country.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that for the first time, the name of caretaker Najib Mikati has been listed among those threatened with assassination.
In this context, the Internal Security Forces called for tightening the security measures, without underestimating the importance of the information, especially after al-Qaeda-linked groups have claimed responsibility for attacks that took place on the Lebanese territories.
The newspaper added that a security document has been circulating over the past few days, including information related to a booby-trapped car (Kia SUV) driven by a Syrian suicide bomber identified as Abou al-Adnan, affiliated with Khaled Abou al-Walid Brigades. The document also says that the vehicle will target a senior figure from Tripoli or Beirut.
Other information says that an explosive-laden black Honda will detonate in Tripoli, near the residence of the said figure.