Press Digest for Wednesday February 12, 2014

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.

• Ministry of Interior to be given to FPM instead of Ministry of Energy-sources

Sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the Ministry of Interior may be given to the Free Patriotic Movement instead of the Ministry of Energy in the upcoming cabinet.

According to the Daily, the sources noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be given to the March 14 alliance.

The same sources concluded by saying that FPM leader MP Michel Aoun is expressing positive signs in this regard, adding that the formation of a new cabinet will soon see the light of day.

• Iranian and Russian embassies in Lebanon adopt additional tight measures-sources

Well informed sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the Russian and Iranian embassies in Lebanon tightened the security measures in the vicinity of the embassies' location.

The same sources added that both embassies adopted such measures after receiving information over plots to launch attacks on the embassies on the backdrop of Russia and Iran's support for the Syrian regime.

• French military delegation to meet President Sleiman over Saudi donation-sources

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that a French military delegation will visit Lebanon next week to hold discussions with President Michel Sleiman over the Saudi donation of French weapons.

Sources added that discussions will feature high over the delivery mechanisms  of the French weapons.

According to the Daily, French President Francois Hollande responded positively to President Michel Sleiman's request to include defense weapons in the donation.

• Young Lebanese men join the "Jihad " in Syria-sources

Sources told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that some Lebanese residents of villages on the Lebanese-Syrian border joined jihadists fighting in Syria.

The same sources added that a large number of these fighters were killed in Syria but their names were kept under wraps pending further investigations.

According to the daily, the ages of these fighters range from 14 to 17 years old, adding that they are linked to Haret Hreik's suicide bomber Qoutayba al-Sattem.