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-Akhbar: Politicians “uncover” UNIFIL [bomb] attackers

In Lebanon there is no need for investigations or for security or judicial services, as politicians "know more" since they have identified those behind the attack on the French contingent. One political camp is certain it is Israel, another is “sure sure” it is Hezbollah and Syria. [Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is known for saying “sure, sure.”]
On one hand, the majority focused on pointing fingers at Israel and on the other hand, the opposition made accusations against Hezbollah and its regional allies.

For Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel, the incident was expected "due to the existence of illegal weapons and security gaps outside the authority of the state.”
The March 14 coalition also condemned the attack "which was carried out in these dubious times in the region and in the interest of a regional axis itself."

Al-Mustaqbal: March 14 resolute to confront coup, weapons
Political assassination attempt against Hariri
Attack on UNIFIL result of security gaps and illegal weapons

The Lebanese arena was busy Wednesday reading the message in the attack on French troops serving with UNIFIL and monitoring the repercussions, aimed at resolution 1701. The first impact was a decision by Italy to withdraw 700 troops from Lebanon, particularly since the attack drew a wide range of internal and external condemnation, most notably by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who expressed deep concern over the repeated attacks on peacekeepers, calling for the “arrest of the perpetrators and bringing them to justice."

But that did not drift attention from reactions to the positions made by Hezbollah secretary-general Sayyed Hasan on Tuesday, which was considered as “a clear declaration of the party’s control over state functions” amid the wait-and-see situation to procedures to be taken by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a 30-day deadline to arrest four Hezbollah suspects [indicted in the Hariri assassination] nears.

Meanwhile, President Michel Sleiman maintained contact [with the various political leaders] to discuss ways to revive national dialogue. Regarding this, Sleiman met Wednesday with Speaker Nabih Berri who said: “Dialogue protects the entire country, not just the government.”

As-Safir: Jumblatt: I fear vacuum in the south in Israel's interest
UNIFIL attack: Probe focuses on data similarity

The attack against French troops on Tuesday remained a focal point for domestic concern amid wide spread speculation as to the motive behind it, sending some people rushing to say the incident was part of internal and external [political] bickering and trying to use it to point fingers of political accusations, once again, toward domestic or regional foes regardless of any lack of evidence supporting the criminal charge.
On the eve of Nasrallah’s speech during which he launched an “equation of deterrence” to defend the rights of Lebanon’s maritime border against Israeli ambitions, the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, citing reports from Israel, said that U.S. envoy Frederick Hof "will soon travel to Beirut to discuss the oil reserves and the maritime border issue with Lebanese officials." It pointed out that the United States seeks to ensure the interests of "Noble Energy" which won the tenders for carrying out oil and gas exploration at two Israeli oil fields.

While the attack against French troops in Sidon continued to draw wide range condemnation from Lebanese political officials, As-Safir learned that the Lebanese Army has arrested 25 people who await interrogation.
UNIFIL Force Commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta wouldn't speculate about who set off Tuesday's bomb, the Associated Press said.
"Al-Qaeda and Islamic Jihad, why not? Palestinians, why not? Syrians, why not? Israel, why not? ... Or even an individual, look at what happened in Oslo some days ago," the AP quoted Asarta as telling reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council Wednesday that three injured peacekeepers were flown back to France, including one with an eye injury.

Reacting to the attack against UNIFIL, MP Walid Jumblatt told As-Safir he fears that the motive behind it is to “create a vacuum in the south.”
“This does not mean UNIFIL’s departure altogether … which may allow the infiltration of whoever wants to infiltrate to expose south Lebanon to peril again, and Israel have a major interest in that,” Jumblatt added.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah official Ammar Moussawi telephoned the French ambassador in Beirut to condemn the attack.
Hezbollah also issued a statement that described the attack a "criminal, unacceptable act," calling on Lebanese authorities to “find the perpetrators and punish them."