The following are a selection of stories from Lebanese newspapers that may be of interest to The Daily Star readers. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

Al-Akhbar

March 8 silent, waiting for Hariri speech

March 8 sources told Al-Akhbar that the Hezbollah-led coalition would wait for former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s speech Friday before it made any decision.

Meanwhile, sources at Dar al-Fatwa told Al-Akhbar that a compromise was likely to be reached over the election of a mufti for Lebanon during the next two weeks.

As-Safir

Hezbollah took over key positions in Eastern Mountain Range

Security sources told As-Safir that Hezbollah took control over a number of strategic hills and uplands in the Eastern Mountain Range along Lebanon’s border with Syria.

Al-Joumhouria

Parliament likely to be extended: Berri

Parliament’s term is likely to be extended if a president is not elected by mid-August, Speaker Nabih Berri told Al-Joumhouria.

Al-Liwaa

Hariri’s initiative to pave way for Parliament’s extension

Sources told Al-Liwaa that an initiative to be launched by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri during a speech Friday would pave the way for an understanding on the extension of Parliament’s term if efforts failed to hold elections and open the door for consensus on a new head of state.