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.

Al-Akhbar: Lawmakers kill reduction of prison term

Although the Administration and Justice Parliamentary Committee had unanimously approved a proposal to reduce the prison sentence Parliament Thursday killed the draft law which only received the backing of Hezbollah and Amal MPs, in addition to lawmaker Robert Ghanem. Some want to ignite trouble again at the prison? [The draft law which would have seen prisoners serve only nine months of prison time for every year convicted was aimed at reducing overcrowding in the country’s prisons.]
Soon Roumieh prison may explode in anger. And we may witness bloodshed as prisoners suffer from overcrowded cells. If this happens, and it is likely, then MPs – who voted against the law to reduce the prison term in Parliament Thursday – should come out to face the public and the families of the inmates.

Ad-Diyar: Despite high fuel prices .. Energy Minister signs [deal] as [Workers] Union [stands idle] watching
Bassil imports oil from Iran … "Let those who care be assured”

Fuel prices began stirring trouble for the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati as soaring fuel prices sent fuel-related consumable prices shooting high. Citizens gear up every Wednesday morning for the fuel price list issued by the Department of Energy to realize once again that much of their salaries go toward filling up their gas tanks.
These prices, which rise from week to week, have once again overshadowed the situation in the country, particularly since the opposition began to raise its voice, criticizing how and why the [Energy] Minister approves [the weekly update of fuel prices], knowing that he had previously [under PM Saad Hariri’s government] refused to issue fuel price updates under the pretext of high fuel prices?
[In February of this year, Energy Minister Jibran Bassil repeatedly delayed the release of the updated price list in a bid to place pressure on the Finance Ministry to implement a tax cut amid soaring gasoline prices.]

Sources close to Bassil said the energy minister still supports efforts to decrease fuel prices, pointing out that the decision is in the government’s hands
The sources blamed the opposition for all that hullaballoo and for igniting rumors, adding that the price of 20 liters of gasoline is still being sold LL900 below the ceiling set by the Energy Ministry and that Bassil would not remain quiet if prices had crossed the ceiling.

Moreover, sources from the Free Patriotic Movement said Bassil had already set a ceiling of up to LL37,000, adding that the energy minister will not sign any fuel price list if the ceiling had been violated.
The sources, however, said these measures will not prevent prices from going up because soaring world prices will affect all these measures. This is why Bassil rushed for talks on oil with Iran, hoping to receive discounts on oil and all its derivatives – gas, fuel and petrol – from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Al-Mustaqbal: Shock over Lebanon’s position in Security Council as Mikati praises ... And Sleiman warns "anyone who lays a hand on our oil wealth”
Parliament approves maritime border law

Lebanon’s decision to dissociate itself from a Security Council statement condemning Syria has once again disavowed its moral and national responsibilities in the region, a move that raised many questions about the government policies and its relations toward both the Arab and international communities in the midst of a boiling region.

In any case, the Lebanese position toward the Security Council presidential statement on the situation in Syria, received “normal” praise from Mikati, who said the stance was "distinguished and satisfied all parties and took into account the specificity of Lebanon."
Mikati found in China a compelling justification, announcing that "a similar position was taken by China in the Security Council on Feb. 28, 1974 in a complaint that was brought by Iraq against Iran."
However, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea had a different view.
“We as Lebanese are not proud of Lebanon's decision at the Security Council," Geagea said.
 
As-Safir: Decree on implementation of law almost ready

Lebanon took the first step into delineating its economic sea borders and protecting its right to oil and gas wealth in its territorial waters by approving a maritime border law which puts the oil issue into a legal framework.
Bassil told As-Safir that Parliament’s endorsement of that law is an “achievement.”
Bassil pointed out that the important thing in approving that law is for the government to commit to the policy statement and issue decrees to implement the laws.
“After the first batch of decrees comes out, specifically upon issuance of the maritime border law decree, I will provide the government with all the documents related to the oil exploration that are in my hands,” Bassil added.