Press Digest for Wednesday April 16, 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.

• Mufti Qabbani, former PM Hariri to meet in Saudi Arabia-sources

Sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday that a meeting between Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is set to be held in Saudi Arabia.

The same sources added that the meeting comes after Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri phone-called Mufti Qabbani and invited him to pay a visit to the kingdom.

This as sources close to Mufti Qabbani denied any media reports over a possible visit to Saudi Arabia as well as the phone-call from the Saudi ambassador.

• Arrested Liwaa al-Haq member says he received funds from Saudi Arabia to prepare booby trapped cars-sources

Sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday that investigations are still ongoing with the arrested persons involved in organizing booby trapped cars attacks in Lebanon.

This as one of the arrested confessed to the Lebanese security apparatuses that he is a member of the Liwaa al-Haq Islamist group, adding that his mission was to collect funds from Saudi Arabia in order to buy cars and explosives.

According to the daily, the same arrested person said that the booby trapped cars were prepared in Syria's Yabroud and Rankous and were sent to Lebanon.

• LF leader to announce presidential program in the few coming days-sources

Sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea will announce his presidential program in the few coming days.

Sources added that Geagea's program includes 38 items, adding that it focuses on various economic and social issues and stresses the importance of the presidency and the Taef accord.

According to the daily, the LF leader will also tackle in his program the "Arab Spring" issue, the Syrian crisis, the Palestinian cause and the implementation of International resolutions.

• Extension of President Michel Sleiman's mandate is out of question-sources

Sources told Acharq al-Awsat newspaper on Wednesday that world leaders and Lebanese officials did not yet launch discussions regarding the Lebanese presidential elections.

The same sources said that the presidential elections will not be held on their due time, adding that a presidential void is highly expected.

According to the daily, the sources stressed that the extension of President Michel Sleiman's mandate is out of question.