Press Digest for Wednesday April 10, 2013

              
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.

• LF and Kataeb to vote on suspension of candidacies                     

March 8 sources asserted on Wednesday to An-Nahar newspaper that the suspension of candidacies for the upcoming parliamentary elections will be put to a vote.                    

Sources said that Speaker Nabih Berri asserted that the Parliament's General Authority session will convene with its present members if quorum is reached.                          

The same sources revealed to the Daily that the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb parties will vote for suspending the candidacies to highlight their rejection of the 1960's electoral law.             

• Outgoing PM Mikati: Carrying out elections is a top priority                      

Outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday to As-Safir newspaper that he did not give any advice to Prime Minister designate Tammam Salam during the consultations to form a new government.   
                  
Outgoing PM stressed to the Daily that he called for the formation of a government whose main purpose will be to hold the elections on their due time.                            

• MP Alain Aoun : Date's suspension of candidacies not to exceed April 19                             

Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun revealed to Al-Liwaa newspaper on Wednesday that the deliberated date's suspension of candidacies for the upcoming parliamentary elections will not exceed April 19.                            

MP Aoun said that this suggestion aims to give more time for deliberations to reach a new electoral draft law which gives apt representation for Christians.                 

• Former PM Karami: PM designate Salam is aware of the necessity of holding elections                                

Former Prime Minister Omar Karami praised on Wednesday in Al Anbaa newspaper the consensus of Lebanese factions over the nomination of Prime Minister designate Tammam Salam to form a new government.                             

Karami noted that PM designate Salam is aware of the necessity of carrying out the parliamentary elections, saying that Salam's success "will be a success for the country."                           

• Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai : Syrian President Assad not worse than fighting rebels                              

Well informed sources revealed to Al-Hayat newspaper on Wednesday that the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai expressed during his meeting with French President François Hollande his concerns over the  Christians in Syria.                   

Sources added that Patriarch Rai called for a political solution for the bloodshed taking place in Syria, saying that Syria's President Bashar Assad is "not worse than the fighting rebels."                          

According to the Daily, Patriarch Rai notified French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius that President Assad is willing to hold dialogue.