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.
Future Bloc MP Ammar Houri said on Monday governmental consultations are currently focusing on the distribution of ministerial portfolios, mainly the ministries of defense and interior.
MP Houri told
Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper the outcome of the final consultations will be revealed next week.
Al-Hayat newspaper reported on Monday that the meeting, which will be held between Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam, will focus mainly on the latest negotiations held by Salam, especially talks with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and National Struggle Front Leader MP Walid Jumblatt.
Sources following up on the cabinet formation told
Al-Hayat newspaper that MP Walid Jumblatt along with Head of the Future Bloc, former PM Fouad Siniora took part in the discussions held between MP Salam and the Future Bloc.
The sources added that the officials discussed the issue of granting the Ministry of Interior to the former Chief of the Internal Security Forces Major General Ashraf Rifi.
In this regard, the sources reported to the newspaper that Hariri raised the names of various Lebanese officials for the said ministry, including the name MP Jamal Jarrah.
Sources following up on the formation of the cabinet told
Al-Hayat newspaper on Monday that officials agreed on the names of ministers in the upcoming cabinet.
The names agreed upon by officials were as follows:
Ministers representing Sunnis: Tammam Salam as Prime Minister, Jamal Jarrah (Ministry of Interior), Ashraf Rifi (Ministry of Social Affairs), Dany Qabbani (Ministry of Energy), and Mohammad Mashnouk (Ministry of Culture).
Minister representing Maronites: Khalil Hrawi (Ministry of Defense), Boutros Harb (Ministry of Health or Telecommunications), Gebran Bassil (Ministry of Education), Sejaan Azzi, and Rony Arayji.
Minister representing Shiites: Ali Hassan Khalil (Ministry of Finance), Ghazi Zeaiter (Ministry of Public Works and Transportation), Mohammad Fneish (Ministry of Labor), Hussein Hajj Hassan, and retired Brigadier Abdel Motleb Hennawi.
Ministers representing Orthodox: Samir Mokbel (Deputy Prime Minister), Gaby Layoun (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ramzi Jreij (Ministry of Justice).
Ministers representing Druze: Wael Abou Faour (Ministry of Health or Telecommunication), and Akram Chehayyeb (Ministry of Agriculture).
Minister representing the Catholics: Michel Faraoun, and another minister from the March 14 forces.
Ministers representing the Armenian community: Sebouh Hovnanian (Ministry of Youth and Sports).
Ministers representing minorities: Nabil de Freij (Ministry of Economy and Trade).
Security sources reported to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday that Hezbollah disbanded a terrorist cell affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The sources noted that the terrorist group ran its activities in south Beirut’s Dahiyeh region under the cover of trade activities, adding that members of the group worked in a confectionery store and had relations with a Saudi intelligence agency.
The sources also reported to the news agency that Lebanese Armed Forces arrested members of the said cell after Hezbollah provided the Intelligence Bureau with necessary information.
For the full IRNA article, please click on this link