Press Digest for Saturday May 04, 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.

• PM-Designate Salam to form new government before May 15

Sources revealed to Al-Hayat newspaper on Saturday that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam is willing to form the new government before May 15.

Sources added that he is still adamant on forming a government from ministers not running for the parliamentary elections, stressing on the rotation of ministries.

• FPM still pining hopes on the Orthodox Gathering's draft law

Sources close to March 8 alliance revealed to An-Nahar newspaper on Saturday that deliberations to form a new government will intensify next week.

Sources added that March 8 alliance is set to hold a second meeting with Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam in this regard.

According to the Daily, deliberations will also feature high over the electoral draft law, noting that the Free Patriotic Movement is still pining hopes on passing the Orthodox Gathering's draft law in the Parliament.

• Contacts underway between FPM leader MP Aoun and LF leader Geagea

Sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday that contacts are underway between Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

According to the Daily, the Maronite Patriarchate is exerting efforts in this regard in order to make the Christian parties reach a common ground pertaining to the hybrid draft law proposed by Speaker Nabih Berri.

• MP Jumblatt expects military escalations in Syria

Sources revealed to Al-Joumhouria on Saturday that National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt is expecting "serious military escalations" in Syria  in the weeks to come.

Sources added that these military escalations will coincide with regional and international developments which will lead to toppling the Syrian President Bachar Al Assad.

According to the Daily, MP Jumblatt raises concerns over the spillover of these developments into Lebanon, mainly the resumption of political assassinations.

• Iranian envoy to Lebanon Roknabadi: Israel will be soon wiped off the map

Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Qazanfar Roknabadi told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday that Iran is adamant on preserving Lebanon's stability and national unity.

He  also expected that Iran will soon "be wiped off the map" as a result of its aggressive policy and its massacres committed against the Palestinians, reiterating Iran's efforts of preventing Sunnite-Shiite strife.

On Iran's nuclear program, he said to the Daily that there is no evidence at all that Iran is enriching uranium for military purposes.