Press Digest for Thursday June 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.

• March 8 camp will continue boycotting election sessions-sources

Ministerial sources told al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is more likely to form an alliance with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt than with Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun.

The same sources added that the March 8 camp will continue boycotting the electoral sessions in order to hinder the election of a new president for the country.

According to the daily, the sources noted that the Lebanese leaders are adamant on electing a new head of state before carrying out other duties.

On another note, Future bloc sources told the daily that MP Michel Aoun has "no chances at all" at being chosen for the country's top post.

• MP Fatfat: Future bloc will not attend session without prior agreement to approve the pay scale

MP Ahmad Fatfat told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday that the Future bloc will not attend the parliamentary session tasked to approve the pay scale without any prior agreement in this regard.

On another note, sources told al-Hayat daily that contacts were ongoing overnight Wednesday-Thursday between Speaker Nabih Berri, Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil, MP Fouad Siniora and March 14 MPs in order to find ways to fund the controversial pay scale.

• Minister of Justice Rifi says adamant on preserving Lebanon's stability and security

Minister of Justice Achraf Rifi told al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday that he is adamant on preserving Lebanon's security and stability, adding that all Lebanese leaders have the same interest in this regard.

Rifi added that Lebanon must be spared the repercussions of the latest military developments in Iraq.

• International community seeks to keep the political conflict in Lebanon "as is"-sources

Political sources told al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday that the International community seeks to keep the political conflict in Lebanon "as is" without leading to further security chaos.

The same sources added that the latest military developments in Iraq are currently on top of the US administration's priorities.

According to the daily, the sources noted that US officials are keen on preserving Lebanon's security amid the ongoing presidential vacuum.