Press Digest for Saturday April 19, 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.

• Future movement official says March 14 forces did not agree on presidential candidate

Deputy head of the Future Movement Antoine Andraos stated on Saturday that the date when former Prime Minister Saad Hariri will come back to Lebanon has not been set yet, stressing that this issue is related to the security situation in the country.                  

Regarding the presidential elections, Andraos told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that March 14 forces did not yet agree on one candidate, stating that the latest speech delivered by Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad is a clear hint that these forces do not want to hold a session to elect a new president.           

• Speaker Berri says pay scale as important as security plan

House Speaker Nabih Berri expressed on Saturday his discontent regarding means of dealing with the dossier of series of and rank salaries, stressing that this file is as important as that of the security plan in North Lebanon.             

Berri expressed via al-Joumhouria newspaper his astonishment seemingly since some deputies changed their opinions between one day and the other, stressing that some deputies stated that they do not want to hold a closed session to discuss the pay scale; however, had different stances at the beginning of the session.          

• Berri will not invite diplomats to attend presidential election session

An-Nahar newspaper stated on Saturday that House Speaker Nabih Berri will not invite ambassadors and diplomats to attend the session scheduled for next Wednesday to elect a new president.                       

In this regard, the newspaper quoted sources as saying that the session may not be held, adding that the situation when electing President Michel Sleiman was different seemingly since consensus was reached on electing the latter.            

• Ambassador Hale discusses Lebanon’s presidential election          

Sources reported on Saturday that US Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale held a series of talks regarding the upcoming session to elect a new president, pointing out that he will be heading to Riyadh next week to discuss the said issue.        

The sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that Ambassador Hale is keen on keeping his country away from any interference in rthe elections, stressing that the US will not support any candidate against the other.