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

Ad-Diyar
Majority thwarts new May 6 by approving pay raise that drew everybody’s ire
[GLC] strike designed to burn, topple Mikati the way Karami was overthrown

Following the uproar triggered by the salary increase that was approved by Cabinet and following rejection from both workers and employers, it was obvious that the hasty approval came after officials in the government were tipped that the strike – had it been carried out as planned by the General Labor Confederation on Oct. 12 – will turn into street riots to overthrow Prime Minister Najib Mikati, particularly since calls for toppling governments in the Arab world have become prominent. And security forces would be unable to curb the demonstrators since the international community is watching any suppression against such movements.

Sources in the majority said the unions had planned massive demonstrations in Sunni cities, especially in areas that had witnessed anti-Syrian regime protests, particularly Sidon and Tripoli. Under the plan, the demonstrators were supposed to encircle Mikati’s residence and burn tires in surrounding roads.

Al-Mustaqbal
Aoun stresses anybody who has harmed Lebanon is being punished ... his FPM movement defends spy Karam
Syrian incursions ongoing ... and the government maintains [policy] in turning blind eye

Lebanon’s eastern border remains the scene of daily Syrian violations, with the Lebanese state doing nothing to end the cross-border incursions into the Bekaa. If the government does not wish to preserve its sovereignty, the minimum it should do is to protect its citizens in Arsal, Anjar and Qaa all the way to Akkar, Akrum and Wadi Khaled.
In the latest chapter in these violations, the Syrian army raided what is known as the “projects’ area” in Qaa in north Bekaa, shooting a citizen in his legs. The wounded was identified as a member of Ezzeddine clan, who hails from Arsal but owns agricultural land in Qaa.
More than 200 families from Arsal invest in agricultural land in Qaa.

Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement commemorated the Oct. 13 [war] anniversary.
[After Aoun declared "The Liberation War" against the Syrian army, he was defeated on Oct. 13, 1990 and forced into exile to France. He returned to Lebanon on May 7, 2005, eleven days after the withdrawal of Syrian troops.]
During Thursday’s ceremony, Aoun acknowledged for the first time that Syria was not okay.
“Refresh your memories. Every country that harmed Lebanon is being punished today,” Aoun told supporters.
“We have never been the aggressors – be it in Dahr al-Wahsh or Souk el-Gharb. We were just protecting our presence,” he added.
As Aoun spoke, a member of the FPM, MP Naji Gharious, hailed Israeli spy Fayez Karam, saying he had been “oppressed.”

As-Safir
Nasrallah meets Jumblatt ...No U.S. modifications to decision to freeze aid to Lebanese Army
Deadline near for STL funding

Statements made by former Prime Minister Omar Karami, who recently met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, were clear as he has reiterated that funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon won’t pass in Cabinet or Parliament.
This position, which Hezbollah has until now not declared openly, was echoed by the head of the Democratic Gathering, MP Walid Jumblatt, during talks with Nasrallah on Thursday on the eve of a scheduled TV appearance for the Druze leader Friday evening on al-Manar channel.
Well-informed sources confirmed to As-Safir that Mikati’s commitment to financing the STL is final.
“Mikati’s decision is final and there is no backing down. And if he were to choose between funding or maintaining his seat, he would choose funding the tribunal,” one source said.
The sources, however, pointed out that Mikati had not lost hope about approving the funding with the minimum possible damage.
They hinted that consultations are likely to soon be held between Mikati and Hezbollah as well as Speaker Nabih Berri who has advised the prime minister not to hasten debate on the state budget bill so as to give a consensus-based decision on the STL a chance.

An-Nahar
Salary increase storm faces further complications, escalation
March 14 to hold national conference

Mikati-Berri overnight conversation, PM hints at modification in initial deal
For the third consecutive day, the storm caused by Cabinet’s pay raise decision did not abate.
As it became obvious Thursday that the sudden decision taken by Cabinet is no way going to be reviewed or modified, eyes turned to the private sector in light of its refusal to implement the government’s deal to see what action it plans to undertake.

Meanwhile, a stark contradiction emerged Thursday between Mikati and the General Labor Confederation over the issue of employees who earn more than LL1.8 million and who were stripped from the pay raise.
Following a meeting between Mikati and a GLC delegation, the head of the GLC Ghassan Ghosn quoted Mikati as promising that he would look into the matter "so that every citizen gets his rights."
This created an impression that the government is likely to reconsider its decision to give employees earning LL1 million and above the LL300,000 increase.
Separately, An-Nahar has learned that the [opposition] March 14 coalition is considering holding a “national conference” next month. Preparations were already under way as March 14 leaders were busy outlining the political manifesto.