An Nahar: Opposition demands the demarcation of political borders with Damascus, thousands in Tripoli march for the Syrian people

As soon as Parliament finalized the demarcation of the maritime borders, the political atmosphere intensified as lawmakers from the majority and the opposition clashed over demarcating the political borders between the Lebanon and Syrian governments, especially in light of Lebanon's position regarding Syria in the Security Council.

Observers say that next week will witness a return to Parliament to finalize what they began this week. In the same week, Lebanon's 30 day-period to hand over the four suspects indicted in the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri will end on Aug. 11, with Hezbollah saying that these men are part of the resistant force and they would never be handed in. Aug. 11 is also the same day Hezbollah is planning to hold an Iftar for Ramadan in the spirit of resuming national dialogue.

A Russian delegation arrived to Lebanon yesterday to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. They met Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and other high ranking officials.

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Saturday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

Al-Balad: Gemayel sets the Kataeb apart in its 29th conference

Kataeb leader Amine Gemayel revealed the party's position regarding dialogue, Hezbollah's arsenal, and the tribunal during the Kataeb's 29th conference. "What is the use of dialogue when Hezbollah considers its arsenal to be sacred?" he said.

Sources within the majority responded to Gemayel's statements and said that they saw nothing new in Gemayel's talk and that it highlighted the difference that has existed between the Kataeb and the March 14 coalition since the party stopped attending the general secretariat’s meetings.

Sources said Gemayel his placing preconditions on dialogue, adding that these conditions remain media rumor and not reality since they haven't been discussed with the president who is responsible for resuming the dialogue.

Ad-Diyar: Fiercest attack [of the Brotherhood] against Mikati: You have chosen the premiership over the blood of children. Mikati’s sources: The statement was made in Lebanon.

A statement published by some websites for the Muslim Brotherhood directed at the government and its prime minister contained words that went beyond limits and almost forced newspapers to censor some of it, but the response from government sources made it easier to publish the statement along with the response. The statement said that the “Syrian people never thought once of betraying its people in Lebanon ... the Syrian people as a whole were shocked by Lebanon's position."

"Then the bigger shock came when Najib Mikati, the son of Tripoli, took that decision in the Security Council when Mikati's representative and Lebanon's in the Security Council said that Lebanon wants to isolate itself from the Security Council statement which asked Syria to respect human rights. Najib Mikati stood by the killers of the Syrian children."

"Mikati forgets that his stance means he is bargaining with his political future and the future of the relationship between him and one people [Lebanese and Syrians].

"We say to Mikati: the tyrants will depart and the people will be victorious. And then you will find yourself where you chose to be … which would remind you of what you deserve; the man who stood beside the murderers of children.”

Mikati sources responded by saying that the statement is made locally and that it was part of a campaign against Mikati and those behind it are known.

Al-Joumhouria: Opposition might reach the point of civil disobedience and Hezbollah prepare for steps after Ramadan.

The events in Syria might have international and regional consequences in Lebanon especially with the intense political scene between the opposition and the majority that was created following the release of the indictment in the assassination of Hariri.

Al-Joumhouria was told that the indictment will be made public between Aug. 18th and the 20th and will be comprised of 40 pages, summarizing 9,700 pages. The summary contains certificates and documents that are related to the car bomb, where it was purchased, and how it entered Lebanon and how the explosion happened along with the investigation that took place following the assassination.

Information reveals that that the opposition will take on Martyrs Square daily following the release of the indictment to place pressure on Mikati to fire Hezbollah ministers from the government if the party does not hand over the accused. The movement will boycott the government until it reaches the point of civil disobedience.

Following the end of the month of Ramadan, information reveals that Hezbollah will work to disregard the issue of the tribunal and the Syrian uprising.