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.
An-Nahar newspaper reported that “the discussions underway to put an end to the current stagnation at the cabinet have made considerable progress, which is expected to take the shape of a solution as of next week, when Prime Minister Tammam Salam returns from a visit to Rome.”
In this regard, sources close to Salam told the daily that the prime minister will renew his contacts concerning the governmental work, in order to see whether it is possible to hold a new session next week.
Well-informed sources from the Future Movement said that “the dialogue held between former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun was fruitful on all the levels,” noting that the conflict remains over the issue of the presidential elections.
The same sources told Acharq al-Awsat that Hariri’s visit to Beirut aimed at seeking a solution for the presidential issue in order to revive the presidency’s role, which has been suspended since 25 May 2014.
As-Safir daily quoted sources close to the case of the abducted soldiers as saying that "the Qatari authorities informed the Director General of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim that they will only withdraw their intervention at the media level, but they will continue their efforts in order to reach a breakthrough with al-Nusra Front."
The sources added that "efforts were deployed in negotiations with the Islamic State back in January, and had reached an advanced stage through a Lebanese mediator, where agreement was reached over an exchange process to be implemented in three phases and during a period of two month, ending next March."
This deal includes the release of 9 Lebanese soldiers held by IS, in exchange for the release of a certain number of Islamist detainees, the sources explained, pointing out that the kidnappers decided to suspend the negotiations without justification.
Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun described the outcome of his meeting with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri at Beit al-Wasat, as “positive,” refusing to disclose any detail in this regard.
In a statement to as-Safir daily, Aoun responded to those who criticized his objection to the extension for the military institution, saying that he presented several legal and constitutional items proving that the decision to extend the mandate of Lebanese army officers is a violation of the norms.
“Some avoid entering into legal and constitutional discussion to criticize my decision, but resort to political accusations,” he added.