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-Liwaa

Hariri says comeback is imminent ... Maronite meeting mulls Muslim [support]

Banks finance STL ... unions’ demo a warning shot

Paris calls for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty ... Hezbollah apologizes for Musawi’s [behavior]

A decision by the Association of Banks in Lebanon to cover the amount ($32 million) paid by the Higher Relief Committee for Lebanon’s share toward the Special Tribunal was a move described as “good” by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, even though it reduced the glare of the decision taken by Prime Minister Najib Mikati to finance the court.

The Banks’ move is also considered a precedent since it is the first time that the private sector donates money to the Lebanese state to protect the banking sector from the international outrage over accusations made against the Lebanese Canadian Bank.

Amid two major events – the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and the Syrian crisis –the Grand Serail faces many problems with Prime Minister Najib Mikati trying to heal the wounds at times and pretending to be deaf at others.

Meanwhile, Maronite leaders and politicians will meet Friday in Bkirki to discuss the draft elections law.

Parliamentary sources taking part in the meeting told Al-Liwaa that discussions would focus on the elections law, particularly since no agreement has yet been reached that would satisfy all parties, which clearly means that a proportional representation system being mulled in Cabinet does not enjoy unanimous Christian consensus.

Several Christian leaders are examining proportional representation with caution. Thus, it is unlikely to be overlooked, especially since Muslims, too, are not comfortable with the issue.

Hariri, who welcomed the Lebanon banks’ measure, revealed on Twitter that he would be in Lebanon very soon for a television interview.

“I will return despite the dangers. This is the price I am willing to pay,” Hariri said.

Ash-Sharq

Demonstration united Lebanese against government

“Your [Cabinet] agreement against us united us.” Under this slogan, teachers of private and public schools as well as vocational and technical institutions demonstrated outside the Grand Serail Thursday in response to a call by the Union Coordination Committee (UCC) to protest the government’s pay hike decision.

The teachers who came from several areas of Lebanon to join the protest shouted slogans rejecting salary amendments and demanding a “fair” pay raise. They reiterated their solidarity with the UCC and condemned the “existence of a government that does not respect the demands of its people.”

Al-Mustaqbal

Teachers warn government ... Hezbollah warns March 14 against issuing accusations "without assessing the consequences"

Electricity services’ scandal: from $300 million to $780 million!

Lebanon stands on the threshold of problems facing the government which began Thursday with the teachers’ strike condemning the government's decision on wage amendments.

Al-Mustaqbal wrote a detailed report about what it termed the latest in a series of scandals involving the “coup government.”

Meanwhile, Hezbollah described as "dangerous and unacceptable" remarks made by some March 14 coalition officials regarding the bombing that targeted UNIFIL.

Hezbollah said these statements are considered “direct accusations without assessing the consequences.”

As-Safir

Massive union demo ... coordination meeting between FPM, Hezbollah, Amal ministers

UNIFIL assesses: prelude to redeployment ... or withdrawal?

If the government succeeded in making up for the long wasted time, the next few weeks will see the Cabinet work stepped up in light of further harmony among ministers from MP Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri after the “troika” decided to strengthen political relations among themselves.

With no word yet from the Shura Council regarding the salary amendment decision, a senior judge rejected the new law "because it contains many loopholes.”

Meanwhile, several officials from the majority held a coordination meeting Thursday that grouped ministers Ali Hassan Khalil (Amal Movement) Jibran Bassil and Charbel Nahhas (FPM) and Mohammad Fneish and Hussein Hajj Hasan (Hezbollah).

The meeting was a follow-up on the tripartite coordination meetings between Bassil, Khalil and the political aide to Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, Hajj Hussein Khalil.

Participants during Thursday’s meeting took a unified position on a number of issues, including the principle of participation in Cabinet meetings.

As-Safir correspondent in Paris Mohammad Ballout said officials in New York were likely discussing ways to pave the way for UNIFIL’s withdrawal from south Lebanon as part of the ongoing strategic review of Resolution 1701 and UNIFIL’s mission.