Press Digest for Tuesday April 08, 2014

4^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.

Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah: Lebanon has the chance to elect a "made in Lebanon president"

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that that President Michel Sleiman's latest remarks put an end for his role as a national dialogue moderator.

As for the presidential elections, Nasrallah told the daily that Lebanon has a chance to elect a "made in Lebanon president" without any foreign interference.

Nasrallah noted that Hezbollah will back the candidate who can maintain the "highest national interest."

He concluded by stressing the importance of conducting a “genuine reconciliation” between all political parties, voicing Hezbollah's readiness to hold dialogue.

Patriarch Rai urges civil society groups, Christian figures to hold sit-ins over presidential elections-sources

Sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai is preparing for holding sit-ins outside the Parliament.

The same sources added that Rai urged several civil society groups and Christian dignitaries to stage sit-ins outside the parliament calling for holding the presidential elections as soon as possible.

This as An-Nahar newspaper quoted Rai as saying on Tuesday that the four main Christian leaders (MP Michel Aoun, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel and Marada movement leader Sleiman Frangieh) must agree on one Christian figure to elect him as president.

MP Nadim Gemayel on the brink of being dismissed from the Kataeb party-Sources

Sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that several disputes emerged during the latest meeting of the Kataeb party.

The same sources added that the party was on the brink of issuing a decision to dismiss MP Nadim Gemayel from the party for not attending the parliamentary sessions undeclared.

This as sources noted that there are many disputes that have arisen between MP Nadim Gemayel and his cousin MP Sami Gemayel over several issues.

Pay scale file will be not ratified on Wednesday-sources

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that the joint parliamentary committees' session set to convene today (Tuesday) will tackle the proposal submitted by Governor of Banque du Liban Riyad Salameh over funding the highly debated Pay Scale.

The same sources added that the Pay Scale file will not be ratified on Tuesday nor Wednesday pending further deliberations over the matter.

Al-Lino denies involvement of sacked Fatah member Dahlan in Mieh Mieh clashes

Palestinian Armed Struggle chief Mahmoud Issa, also known as al-Lino told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday that Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan played no role in the recent clashes that occurred at the Palestinian refugee camp of Mieh Mieh in Sidon.

Al-Lino added that Dahlan's role at the camp is only a humanitarian one.

He concluded by saying that the “clashes date back to an old issue that renewed over power at the Mieh Mieh camp.”