Press Digest for Saturday April 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.

• MP Nadim Gemayel: I don't regret not giving cabinet the vote of confidence

Kataeb MP Nadim Gemayel  told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that the Kataeb party did not choose yet any candidate for the presidential elections, stressing however the right of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to submit his candidacy for the presidency.

Gemayel stressed the importance of electing a new president on due time to spare the country the presidential void.

As for the newly formed cabinet, Gemayel reiterated that he has no regrets over not giving the government the vote of confidence.

• Meetings held between Hariri, Future MPs over presidential elections-sources

Sources told al-Joumhouria on Saturday that several meetings were held between former Prime minister Saad Hariri, MP Fouad Siniora, Minister of Interior Nouhad Machnouq and Future MPs.

Discussions reportedly featured high over the presidential elections and the Future Movement stance over the candidates.

Same sources reported that MP Siniora will hold several meetings with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Kataeb leader Amine Gemayel in this regard.

• Leaders of axis left Tripoli to spare the city clashes with LAF-sources

Sources told As-Safir newspaper on Saturday that the leaders of axis involved in the rounds of clashes in the northern city of Tripoli left the city upon the implementation of the security plan.

Same sources added that the leaders left the city following the issue of arrest warrants against them by the Lebanese judiciary.

According to the Daily, the leader of axis preferred to leave the city and spare their neighborhoods any possible clashes with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

• US administration does not back any candidate for Lebanese presidential elections-US official

A white House official told al-Hayat newspaper on Saturday that the US administration does not back any candidate for the Lebanese presidential elections.

The official reiterated to the Daily the US full support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, adding that the cooperation with LAF over military aids are ongoing.

The official also hailed the implementation of the security plan in the northern city of Tripoli, stressing the importance of the deployment of LAF on the entire Lebanese territory.