THE DAILY STAR :: News :: Politics :: Lebanon's Arabic press digest

Following are some summaries of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Wednesday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

As-Safir: Lebanon marks Liberation Day amidst Power Vacuum

Lebanon celebrates Wednesday the 11th anniversary of Liberation Day, recalling the historic achievement accomplished on May 25, 2000, when the Resistance, after accumulated scarifies, managed to force the Israeli enemy to pull out from most of the occupied territory in the south and Western Bekaa without conditions. This triumph laid the cornerstone for a new stage in the Arab-Israeli conflict: an inauguration to the end of the era of defeats and the launch of the period of victories.

But what holds us back from celebrating this occasion fully is the ongoing Cabinet crisis as a result of the huge differences between President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati on one hand, and between Mikati and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on the other, over the principles of a Cabinet lineup and how to choose ministers and distribute portfolios, a sign that the crisis has become a vicious circle.

As Lebanon geared up for Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech Wednesday, no word of a breakthrough in the Cabinet formation crisis has emerged as tension between Mikati and Aoun escalated.

Meanwhile, Mikati is reportedly still awaiting word from Aoun on his candidates for the new Cabinet.

Mikati did not go deep in responding to Aoun’s remarks which the FPM leader made following his regular Tuesday meeting of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc.

“Saying that we had demanded to choose between 45 names is exaggerated. We suggested that there should be logical options,” As-Safir quoted Mikati as saying.

Mikati, nevertheless, said his doors remain open for Aoun at all times, adding that he is not ready to visit him, in accordance with the Constitution.

An-Nahar: (Argument) blows up between Aoun and Mikati

The government crisis faced heightened rhetoric Tuesday after Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun unleashed a series of accusations against Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati. Prominent sources in the Future parliamentary bloc said the real crisis emerged when the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri was toppled without those behind the collapse taking into consideration the consequences of their actions.

The escalation in the political crisis Tuesday coincided with the withdrawal of the Lebanese Army from the northern border with Syria. Military sources said the move comes after Syrian refugees stopped fleeing into Lebanon as a result of President Bashar Assad’s crackdown on anti-regime demonstrators.

According to information obtained by An-Nahar, talks on the government formation froze last week after Mikati requested various parties involved in the quartet meeting to present lists their lists of candidates for ministerial portfolios.

Al-Mustaqbal: Hariri calls for overcoming divide

Lebanon Wednesday marks the beginning of the second half of the mandate of President Michel Sleiman at the time when he is being targeted by the new majority - the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition - and while Lebanon is geared up for Hezbollah Secretary-General leader Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on the occasion of Liberation Day.

While Sleiman believes Liberation Day requires an insight into the facts of the ongoing Lebanese situation and through an understanding of what is happening in the Arab world, Hariri sees this year's anniversary as coinciding with the “exceptional and unprecedented circumstances which Lebanon and the Arab world are experiencing.”

Hariri said the Arab uprisings should push Lebanese to overcome all the factors that could lead to division and disunity.

But certainly the government formation process will not be “liberated” on Liberation Day as Lebanon faces crises at the economic, tourism and business levels as well as the crises in addition to the paralysis of government institutions.

Al-Akhbar: Government formation journey over

Gen. Michel Aoun lamented Tuesday ongoing consultations to form a new government, offering a set of facts in which, through them, he deemed Mikati as wasting time.

While no official response came from Prime Minister-designate Mikati, his sources expressed surprise at Aoun’s remarks.

Following months of failure to form a government, the new majority moved to phase two: retreat. With four months having past since Mikati was named to form the new Cabinet, Aoun launched a strong attack on Mikati while Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh announced that he did not expect the government to be formed any time soon amid external pressures exerted on Mikati.