Press Digest for Sunday December 14, 2014

3^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.

Reservations expressed over tasking Association of Muslim Scholars with issue of abducted troops – daily

Al-Hayat daily quoted senior political sources as saying that reservations have been expressed over tasking the Association of Muslim Scholars with the negotiations conducted with the kidnappers of Lebanese troops, awaiting a vow from the abductors to abstain from executing anymore hostages.

The sources said that these reservations result from an implicit rejection of Hezbollah to this appointment, given that the Muslim scholars continue to slam the Shiite party and its intervention in Syria, while accusing it of supporting extremist groups.

In this context, the sources added that Hezbollah is avoiding the declaration of its position in order to prevent sectarian tension.

The same sources noted that contacts will be held next week in order to find a solution for this issue.

France to remove Lebanon’s file from agenda Middles East’s crises - sources

The Lebanese ministerial delegation to Paris expressed relief towards the outcome of the three-day visit of Prime Minister Tammam Salam and his accompanying delegation to France; noting that the French authorities were “completely responsive” concerning the main headlines of the discussions, including the security and military situation, the political developments and the humanitarian and economic circumstances.

In a statement to Acharq al-Awsat, sources from the delegation said that Paris expressed a will to hasten the delivery of weapons agreed upon within the Saudi grant to the Lebanese army.

According to well-informed sources, the delay in the delivery is due to manufacturing necessities, concerning the helicopters and navy ships, to be handed over to the Lebanese army by February 2015.

The sources added that France is intending to remove the Lebanese file from the agenda of Middle Eastern crises, over which a dispute has erupted between the world powers.