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.

An-Nahar
From Diman, Sleiman voices support for patriarch
STL confident Mikati will uphold funding commitment

The uproar caused by comments made by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai has now led to a visit to Diman by President Michel Sleiman.
While he sought to avoid commenting on criticism made against Rai, Sleiman spared no effort in showing strong support for the patriarch’s positions [in opposition to some Christians in March 14 who have lashed out at Rai over his statements on Syria and Hezbollah’s arms.]
Political circles said Sleiman’s support for Rai can be seen as an attempt to put an end to the storm of criticism against the patriarch.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in turn, will visit Diman before noon Friday in a tradition that has taken place annually since the era of former Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.
Regarding the issue of funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, An-Nahar has learned that an implicit understanding has been reached between officials to provide Lebanon’s share of funding, after they were informed that failure to uphold Lebanon’s commitments would expose it to sanctions that are likely to affect its banking sector.

Meanwhile, MPs Marwan Hamadeh and George Adwan, as well as March 14 secretariat general coordinator Fares Soueid, spoke to An-Nahar and denied that they are considering submitting a proposal to Parliament to protect STL funding.

Al-Mustaqbal
Electricity [plan] postponed until Monday … Sleiman defends Rai statements … Syrians shoot in direction of [Lebanese] Army

As the crisis in Syria continues, shrapnel once again hit the northern border with Lebanon, and as the world celebrated International Day of Democracy, political attention was focused on two issues: the repercussions of Rai’s remarks made in Paris last week and the meeting of the joint parliamentary committee, which was marred by heated debate and tension over the electricity plan.
Amid all this, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Lebanon is deeply concerned by the protest movements and political change in the Arab world.

Meanwhile, President Sleiman held a significant meeting with Patriarch Rai in Diman Thursday, saying Rai had “acted in the best interest of Lebanon.”

As-Safir
Parliament to approve electricity bill Thursday!
Sleiman to France and March 14: Rai conveyed Christian concerns

President Sleiman’s visit to Diman has provided a political cover for Rai, not only at the domestic level but also at the French level following comments made by France, which pushed the limits of diplomatic etiquette when Ambassador Denis Pieton said his government was disappointed by Rai’s comments and that he will soon visit the patriarch seeking clarification.

Meanwhile, the Grand Serail is expected to see intensive activity next week with Cabinet meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Prime Minister Najib Mikati will also chair the first ministerial committee meeting tasked with amending electricity law 462 in line with the new electricity plan.
The first session of the joint parliamentary committee Thursday failed to result in a finalized electricity bill after opposition deputies did not provide a quorum, leading to the postponement of the meeting until Monday.
According to parliamentary sources, the session was tense from the moment it commenced and seemed to set the stage for an upcoming dispute.
Sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir that the Monday meeting of the joint committee will be the last, whatever the results. They said the draft electricity law will then be referred to the General Board which is likely to hold a meeting on Thursday.

Al-Akhbar
Aoun, Mikati: lost confidence

It has become clear that the relationship between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and MP Michel Aoun and his 10 ministers is suffering from a severe lack of confidence.
The main reason is that the Aounists believe that the Mikati government should consider a serious change in the country’s economic policies.
MP Michel Aoun is being tough on Prime Minister Najib Mikati. It is not easy to accuse the prime minister of [promoting] sectarianism [as Aoun did Monday]. Aoun never used this description against former Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Mikati and his team refuse to comment.
Ten weeks since the government gained a vote of confidence, it seems that trust within the Cabinet is lost. The Aounists no longer consider Mikati a partner, but the head of a rival government.

Al-Anwar
Heated debate over the electricity bill: why should 700 MW be priced at millions of dollars?

A joint parliamentary committee session Thursday saw heated debate over the electricity bill which ended in a lost quorum, crippling the meeting.
Opposition lawmakers raised a series of questions about the amount of money required for the project, questioning the reasons for pricing 700 megawatts at millions of dollars.
March 14 legislators said they will not sign the billion-dollar bill, adding that the amount requested for the production of 700 MW is higher than it actually costs.