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

Al-Liwaa
Siniora intervenes to suspend LL8.9 billion [allocations]
Mikati sounds the alarm: Treasury can no longer take it
Verbal clashes between Hezbollah, March 14 MP and Aoun ministers

As Cabinet was compelled to sign deals relating to compensations, expenses, pensions in addition to an agreement on LL 6 billion to complete the renovation of lawmakers' offices, Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government found itself near disaster, particularly after former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora warned that the economic and the situation at the treasury could worsen.

Mikati sounded the alarm, calling on lawmakers to take an objective approach to financial issues that depend on the ability of the treasury to absorb more debt, in light of the economic downturn and a slowdown in growth.
Mikati addressed fellow deputies during Wednesday’s legislative session, saying: “We are unable to follow up on financial matters that are costing the state. We will drown in a huge debt if we don’t take this matter seriously.”
The session was productive as Parliament passed five important bills and law proposals.

However, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shelved a draft law to open exceptional allocations for the budget worth LL8.9 billion to cover public employees’ salaries and end-of-service payments due to lack of unanimity.
It was understood that this issue was one of the topics discussed at the end of the parliamentary meeting between Mikati, Berri and Siniora. In addition, the issue of the state budget and funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon were discussed during the meeting, which lasted nearly 45 minutes.
Siniora stressed that Lebanon was committed to funding the tribunal and that failure to pay now would be regarded as a form of debt under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757.

Ad-Diyar
Syria-Arab League agreement complicated, implementation to face difficulties
Syrian kidnappings in Lebanon a mystery as Jumblatt upset by Arslan's Damascus visit
What made Berri move to relaunch dialogue?

An agreement between Syria and the Arab League seems difficult and complicated, although Syria’s approval of the Arab initiative is a positive step in of itself. However, some consider the Arab plan as a waste of time. They believe implementation will face several difficulties.

Meanwhile, the issue of Syrian nationals being kidnapped in Lebanon remains a mystery and uproar over this issue broke out in Parliament Wednesday pitting Hezbollah MPs Hasan Fadlallah and Ali Ammar against Progressive Socialist Party MP Akram Shehayeb and MP Marwan Hamade.

Regarding dialogue, the question is what made Speaker Nabih Berri move toward relaunching all-party talks [to discuss a defense strategy for Lebanon]? That answer is known only by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah.
As Berri seeks to resume dialogue, March 14 forces considered national talks a waste of time.

Al-Joumhouria
Law allowing Lebanese who fled to Israel to return home raises doubts about the timing and implementation

A showdown between rival lawmakers took place during Wednesday’s legislative session as hot issues were being discussed, at the forefront the issue of the so-called “security zones” and the kidnappings of Syrian nationals in Lebanon as well as the abduction of MEA employee Joseph Sader.
Topics such as violations on the Lebanese border, restrictions on freedoms and the students’ fight at the Lebanese American University were also discussed.

Parliament approved 22 items, in addition to passing a draft law proposed by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun that would facilitate the return of Lebanese who fled to Israel in the wake of the latter’s withdrawal from south Lebanon in May 2000.
Parliament also approved a law amending the pay grade of different army ranks.
March 14 sources said Parliament’s approval of the law that allows the return of Lebanese refugees from Israel had been a Christian demand.

However, they added that raising this issue at this particular time and linking it to Aoun seemed as though the issue has taken a sectarian turn.
The sources said implementation remains to be seen in light of Hezbollah’s dominance of the state and its institutions.

Al-Mustaqbal
March 14 urges Lebanese communities abroad to stand in solidarity with Syrian communities’ actions

A stance made by the March 14 coalition during its weekly meeting Wednesday came in harmony with statements made by March 14 deputies in Parliament, particularly as it demanded the government “to immediately stop supporting the Syrian regime, especially at the diplomatic level, in order to prevent Lebanon from moving beyond Arab legitimacy amid risks of falling out of international legitimacy in the event it refused to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

March 14 also urged Lebanese communities abroad to stand in solidarity with the Syrian communities in their world-wide actions.
It also stressed the need to prioritize the demarcation of the Lebanon-Syria border with Arab League participation, in line with the Taif Accord.