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.
Sources close to the March 8 coalition told
Al-Joumhouria
newspaper on Thursday that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam will probably
form a new government of 16 ministers, adding that he will submit his proposal
to President Michel Sleiman.
Same sources ruled out the possibility that
President Sleiman and the Lebanese political parties will approve the said
formula, especially if it does not take into account the conditions set forth by the
March 8 coalition.
In this regard, the aforementioned sources reported that "the
other party" [March 14 coalition] also set its conditions that include excluding
Hezbollah from the government, expressing concern over Salam's potential
resignation should the parties not facilitate his mission.
Well-informed sources told
Al-Akhbar Daily that "Speaker
Nabih Berri and the National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt have
agreed to prevent a quorum of the Constitutional Council". In this context, seven members of the council attended while 3 others
boycotted the session held yesterday.
Same sources stressed that
the United States is calling for holding the parliamentary elections on their
due date, noting that "this call is however doomed to fail" since Berri, Jumblatt and
their allies are adamant on the extension of the parliament's mandate.
Future bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat said that "Lebanon stands at
a dangerous crossroad," mainly after Hezbollah's involvement in Syria's
al-Qusayr as well as the killing of Hashem Salman before the Iranian embassy,
and slammed the Lebanese Armed Forces for "not acting in a responsible manner".
On another note, MP Fatfat told
Al-Joumhouria newspaper that Lebanon needs a new government that is able
to deal with the Lebanese internal affairs.
He also noted that President Michel
Sleiman shoulders many responsibilities mainly in regards to the Constitutional
Council.
The forensic report indicated that the
body of Baalbek's municipal Treasurer, Ali Mohamad Solh, was shot once in the
head, noting that the gunshot was fired from a distance of 20 cm or less,
security sources reported.
In this regard, a security official told
Al-Akhbar
daily that "Solh probably committed suicide," pointing out that financial
problems may be the reason behind his death, adding that his fingerprints were
found on the gun.