Press Digest for Tuesday December 30, 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.

• PM Salam hails dialogue between Future Movement and Hezbollah

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Tuesday the necessity of electing a new president in a bid to restore the work of all state institutions.

On another note, PM Salam hailed via As-Safir newspaper the Hezbollah-Future dialogue, and considered it a political development, expressing his hope that these dialogue sessions would have a  positive impact on the work of the cabinet.

Salam also stated that the issue of solid wastes will be the first item on the agenda of the cabinet session scheduled for the 8th of January, calling on all political factions to bear their responsibilities in order to resolve similar conflicting issues.

• MP Frangieh voices support for dialogue sessions between FPM and LF

Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Frangieh voiced on Tuesday his support for dialogue sessions between the Future Movement and Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces.

Regarding preparations aimed at holding a dialogue session between Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea and Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun, MP Frangieh told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that he is not against the said meeting, pointing out that these dialogue sessions will ease the tension among citizens and will have positive repercussions on the work of state institutions.

• Syrian army ambushes FSA and Al-Nusra members in Assal Al-Ward

Security sources reported to As-Safir newspaper that members from the Free Syrian Army and Al-Nusra Front targeted on Monday military surveillance points for the Syrian army and Hezbollah located in the border region of Assal Al- Ward.

However, the sources noted that these members were ambushed by the Syrian army, pointing out that soldiers of the said army used directed propelled grenades and artillery shells to halt the attack of FSA and Al-Nusra members.

• Preparations are ongoing for meeting between FPM’s Aoun and LF’s Geagea

Sources reported to An-Nahar newspaper that a date has not been scheduled for the meeting between Change and Reform Bloc Leader MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces Chief Samir Geagea.

In this regard, the sources noted that preparations are ongoing between representatives of both sides to reach an agreement over certain issues, denying that a meeting will be held soon between the two leaders at the residence of a minister yet to be named.