The following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Sunday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
Mustaqbal: Representatives of Tripoli in Baabda, Verdun and the “disarmament”
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah talked about spies within his own party, and the party’s own investigation into the matter. This was followed by Justice Minister Chakib Kortbawi who spoke about the independence of the judiciary as a priority.
Kortbawi backed comments from prosecutor Judge Said Mirza after the information was made public by Nasrallah at his news conference and learning about the existence of spies within the party. He said he had carried out all his duties, and called the prosecutor and asked him to investigate, and he immediately contacted the intelligence.
Mirza said it was unthinkable for one party to follow up on a crime of this scale, and that it should be dealt with at the state level, adding that the state alone has the authority to do this and that Hezbollah is required to hand over those involved.
Sharq al Awsat: Mikati: There’s no reason for non-state arms in Tripoli
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that there’s “no real reason to keep weapons [in the hands of civilians in Tripoli] in light of the legitimate security services, which will not accept a substitute or partner.” He added that it was important to “respond to the aspirations of the people of Tripoli and the wishes of everyone to withdraw arms from all neighborhoods of the city. It is the basic right of the people of Tripoli to enjoy security and stability like other Lebanese cities.”
Mikati stressed that "what happened last week was a wakeup call for the people of the city and the deputies and their leaders." He added that they rushed to stop the clashes and restore calm to the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
Mikati emphasized that the government will work to achieve its goals through concrete steps, in coordination with everyone, and any security measure should not be interpreted as being directed at any particular party. He said, “We realize that no stability, peace or social justice can be achieved in the absence of balanced development.”
He also noted that the investigation is ongoing into the events that took place last week.
Al Diyar: The International Red Cross and Lebanese discuss Syrian refugee situation
A joint delegation of representatives from the International Red Cross and Lebanese in Akkar discussed the establishment of a camp for displaced Syrians in the area can accommodate 15,000 in accordance with international standards. The delegation will visit the border towns to distribute mattresses and tents, where there are currently 4,300 displaced people, and more have recently entered Lebanon from the Homs area in central Syria.
Meanwhile, as Hezbollah indicates that it is determined to not work with the International Tribunal, some members of the opposition are saying that they want to topple the government.
An-Nahar: Will the experiment of disarming Tripoli work?
As they prepare for the ministerial committee for the new government, the chairman of the committee said that there is a single formula regarding a section of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, adding that "All that talk about several formats on the table to the tribunal is not true."
Observers noted that this formula does not correspond with those adopted in the ministerial statement of the Government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, which says:
"The government affirms, in its respect for international law, as agreed in the national dialogue, the commitment to cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which has under the U.N. Security Council resolution 1757 to reveal the truth behind the assassination of martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others..."
Regarding the deadly disarmament of Tripoli, Prime Minister Mikati has demanded that the city become “demilitarized” in order to achieve stability. He emphasized that this was not just a slogan and that the plans would indeed be carried.