Press Digest for Tuesday July 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.

Saudi embassy demands information on Raouche would-be suicide bomber- sources

Sources told An-Nahar daily on Tuesday that the Saudi embassy in Lebanon asked the foreign ministry to allow direct cooperation with the Lebanese judicial and security authorities in order to follow up on investigations with the Raouche would-be suicide bomber.

Saudi national Ali Ibrahim al-Thawani, 20, who has been detained by the General Security, had sustained burns and injuries after Abdul Rahman Bin Naser al-Shenifi blew himself up as General Security members raided the Duroy Hotel in Raouche.

In this regard, the Saudi embassy hoped, in a letter sent to the ministry, that it would be allowed to be briefed on al-Thawani's condition as well as on security information that "could benefit Lebanon and the kingdom".

Education Minister Bou Saab to meet Kataeb MP Gemayel over LU dossier

Education Minister Elias Bou Saab held contacts on Monday with Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi who expressed reservations, during the latest cabinet session, about the file pertaining to the Lebanese University.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper also reported that Bou Saab will visit on Tuesday Kataeb Party's Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel after he put all relevant files at the disposal of a Kataeb delegation.

Speaker Berri urges all parties to cooperate to end political vacuum- sources

"Speaker Nabih Berri is now fully convinced that the presidential elections will not take place in the foreseeable future," political sources close to Berri said on Tuesday.

In this regard, Berri urged all Lebanese parties to cooperate in a bid to avoid further political vacuum, the same sources reported.

Speaker Berri also voiced his concern about the "stubbornness" of Lebanese parties, some of whom are calling for parliamentary elections amid the presidential void with others being adamant on holding the presidential elections first, sources told Al-Joumhouria daily.

LF MP Karam calls for daily Parliamentary sessions to elect new president

Lebanese Forces MP Fadi Karam called on Speaker Nabih Berri and lawmakers to heed Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros al-Rai's call to hold daily Parliamentary sessions until a new president is elected.

In an interview with the Kuwait-based Al-Seyassah daily, MP Karam said the deputies should respond to Rai's call, "if they are to be considered as working for the interest of their country".