Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
Al-Mustaqbal
Hariri salutes people of the north [Lebanon] and Syria
Tripoli rally stressed choice of Arabism and dignity
The unexpectedly high turnout at Sunday’s Tripoli rally to celebrate Independence Day is likely to leave a decisive political impact at more than one level – the independence team having restored the initiative both politically and publicly; the crucial public referendum in the city of Tripoli and north Lebanon; defending martyrs who fell for independence as well as commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and efforts to thwart the Hezbollah-organized coup which had been assigned to the prime minister of this government [Najib Mikati].
Later Sunday, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri hailed participants at the rally.
Hariri told his Twitter followers that they had demonstrated through their large turnout that they would not neglect attempts to target “the march of freedom, sovereignty and independence” or to avoid the tribunal.
As-Safir
Tripoli rally: below expectations
Efforts to reconcile government with STL
Only two days ahead of Wednesday’s crucial, if not fateful, Cabinet meeting, hush-hush contacts aimed at defusing the explosion in government stepped up in light of the race to overthrow Prime Minister Najib Mikati and MP Michel Aoun.
Meanwhile, a rally organized by the Future Movement in Tripoli Sunday was below expectations after the uproar that preceded the festival did not match the fervor for many reasons, most notably because the speakers did not offer anything new, the turnout was not as expected, and the star (Saad Hariri) failed to attend – either physically or technically.
It seems that the consultations, a major part of which were led by Speaker Nabih Berri over the past few days, have succeeded to some extent in alleviating the political escalation in an attempt to give efforts to fix the government a chance before Wednesday's session.
While Hezbollah sought to calm the "Aouni front,” Berri stepped up his consultations with Mikati and President Michel Sleiman, openly expressing his fear of the consequences that could result from any resignation.
Asked whether he expected a settlement ahead of Cabinet’s Wednesday meeting, Berri told As-Safir: “We are working. An angel will come each day.”
Al-Liwaa
Hezbollah rejects Sleiman offer ... Aoun warns Mikati
Future [Movement] rally in Tripoli ... Hariri speaks of roadmap
Lebanon moved on after the Nov. 27 rally in Tripoli, with some saying hundreds of thousands turned out at the celebrations.
Meanwhile, political leaders of the coalition government failed to find a way to prevent a government split as Mikati, who politically survived criticism by [March 14] speakers at the Tripoli rally, was not spared criticism from Aoun’s parliamentary bloc.
The Aouni bloc gave Mikati an ultimatum that expires Wednesday. The Wednesday meeting is crucial for the Mikati government, not only because of Aoun’s warning, but also over the dilemma of financing the STL.
Before Mikati’s return from the Vatican, where he will meet Pope Benedict XVI Monday, Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud [a member of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement] issued a warning:
“The prime minister [Mikati] has three days to change his behavior toward the ministries of the Free Patriotic Movement,” Abboud told OTV television channel late Sunday.
Although Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting has 68 items on its agenda, including the issue of STL funding, both Aoun and Hezbollah have rejected discussion of the STL funding as a separate item and demanded that it be debated within the 2012 state budget.
Moreover, Al-Liwaa has learned that a proposal made by President Michel Sleiman regarding the issue of STL financing has also been snubbed by Hezbollah.
The proposal calls for Cabinet to approve STL funding without much uproar either during Wednesday’s meeting or during another meeting to be set by Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri told his Twitters followers that he believes the Tripoli rally was a “roadmap for the days to come.”
Al-Akhbar
Berri ‘lubricates’ mediation machine to rescue government
Four days after Mikati threatened to resign, Berri decided to move to try to prevent the government from falling.
Meanwhile, sources close to Mikati said the prime minister remained adamant over his resignation early next month if the STL funding item failed to pass Cabinet’s vote.
The arena remained absent from any mediation attempt. No one has moved to fill the gap. Berri, however, has “lubricated his machines” and awaits Mikati’s and MP Walid Jumblatt’s return to launch an initiative aimed at one good deed: keeping the government alive.
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