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.
“Prime Minister Tammam Salam is set to discuss with the Lebanese political forces, in the next two days, what he dubbed “a new approach” to the government’s work mechanism,” sources told As-Safir daily on Monday.
“Salam is set to decide on the new approach soon and will meet with Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel Wednesday,” the sources said, adding “the approach aims to restore the principle of consensus amongst ministers and prevent the use of veto regarding regular issues”.
“A solution is being mulled so that governmental decisions over regular affairs won’t be disrupted by any of the cabinet ministers or political parties,” the same sources added.
Official sources said on Monday that Sheikh Mustafa al-Hujeiri, who acts as a mediator between the Lebanese government and Nusra Front militants who captured soldiers in Arsal, visited on Sunday the mountainous region where the kidnappers are located.
“The Lebanese side is awaiting Hujeiri’s return in order to receive the militants’ final list of demands,” the sources told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper.
Asked about contacts with the Islamic State abductors who also captured soldiers, the same sources said “mediation efforts by Arsal’s deputy mayor Ahmad al-Fliti remain stalled by the kidnappers for unknown reasons”.
Lebanon’s Shi’ite movement Hezbollah and the Future Movement are set to hold their eighth dialogue session in Ain El-Tineh on Monday evening.
This comes after the return of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's bureau chief Nader Hariri from the United States, Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq from Cairo and Future bloc MP Samir al-Jisr from Europe.
“The session’s agenda includes two important files, the first being the presidential elections and the second the security plan and the need to proceed with it across the Lebanese regions,” Future Movement sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq said on Monday that his position over civil marriage will not change, noting that this issue cannot be settled by an administrative decision.
In an interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper, Mashnouq said the solution lies only in the legislation of a civil personal status law, urging the concerned parties to head to the parliament and ask for the adoption of said law.
“I will be the first one to sign it,” he concluded.