The following are a selection of stories from Lebanese newspapers that may be of interest to Daily Star readers. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

Al-Joumhouria

No fishy motives behind Frangieh’s visit to Aoun

Free Patriotic Movement sources told Al-Joumhouria that Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh’s visit to MP Michel Aoun Wednesday sought to reiterate support for Aoun and nothing else.

Meanwhile, ministerial sources told Al-Joumhouria that the general mood among the political forces tended to encourage an understanding of nondisruption of the government pending an agreement over a mechanism of action for the Cabinet.

Al-Akhbar

Aoun to launch battle against 1960 electoral law

Al-Akhbar has learned from sources close to MP Michel Aoun that Aoun will soon launch a battle against the 1960 electoral law versus his support for the Orthodox law, which parliamentary blocs will veto again.

And when deadlines approach, according to the sources, the only solution would be to hold elections under the 1960 law.

The sources pointed out that Aoun’s main concern at the moment was holding the parliamentary elections. He wants the government to become a caretaker government, thus desires for a government to run the country in the presence of a presidential vacancy would be thwarted.

Ad-Diyar

Russia, Saudi Arabia in talks to produce peaceful solution to Syria

A diplomatic source told Ad-Diyar that crises in Lebanon and the region could not be solved unless a peaceful solution were found for the Syria conflict.

For that purpose, Saudi Arabia and Russia are holding away-from-the-spotlight bilateral talks in an effort to build an initiative that would lead to a peaceful solution, or to the resumption of the Geneva talks in order to put pressure on both sides of the conflict to restart dialogue between them.

An-Nahar

Jumblatt adds Kahwagi to ‘No-president’ list

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt said when asked about the specifications for a strong Lebanon president that he wanted a person who could set the rules for a strong state.

“Unfortunately, this does not exist today,” Jumblatt told state-run Tele Liban.

He said he considered PSP candidate Henry Helou to be a man of dialogue.

Jumblatt said he did not favor the election of Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi “because this way we will be dedicating the presidency to a military figure.”