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

Ad-Diyar

Patrols put on alert in fear of car bombing [attack] on New Year's Eve

Despite denial by [Lebanese] officials, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn insists on presence of Al-Qaeda in Lebanon

Military Intelligence warns of bomb attack due to Al-Qaeda presence

The military command has ordered all military units deployed across Lebanon to be vigilant for a possible car bomb attack after it received information about the entry of 28 members of Al-Qaeda to Lebanon. Patrols were also put on alert after information of a possible car bomb attack on New Year's Eve similar to the recent bombings that took place in Iraq and Syria.

On the other hand, statements made by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn about the presence of Al-Qaeda members in Lebanon were based on information provided by the Lebanese Military Intelligence.

Meanwhile, security officials urged embassies in Lebanon to contact Lebanese Army Military Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel to set meetings with him to discuss the size and danger of Al-Qaeda's presence in Lebanon given that these countries have vital interests and fear of Al-Qaeda's presence in the country.

Several politicians argued whether Ghosn had the right to expose the secret information about Al-Qaeda’s presence and actions in Lebanon or that the data should have remained confidential to allow authorities to determine their whereabouts and take measures against the organization.

Al-Liwaa

Beirut MPs: Disarmament paves way for the resumption of dialogue

Private sector decides to raise minimum wage immediately

Arsal residents to rally outside Grand Serail to reject Al-Qaeda accusations

Calls for a weapons-free Beirut as well as the security situation along Lebanon’s northern and eastern border with Syria remain at the forefront amid the parties’ preoccupation with the matter of salary increases and whether or not the Shura Council will approve the new decree passed by Cabinet last week.

Meanwhile, the Economic Associations said it would commit to an earlier agreement reached with the General Labor Confederation (GLC), thus ignoring the vote last week in Cabinet that approved the new pay hike.

Beirut’s and Arsal’s security will be separately discussed Tuesday – the first between a delegation representing Beirut MPs and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the second between a delegation representing Arsal residents and Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the wake of accusations that Al-Qaeda members were infiltrating into Arsal pretending to be Syrian opposition activists.

Beirut MPs will also hold meetings with Mikati as well as Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji.

As-Safir

Salary increase mess awaits Shura Council

Will Cabinet pass oil exploration law?

The controversy about whether Al-Qaeda members are present in Lebanon or not has been overshadowed by political rhetoric over the past few days as Lebanese appear to be geared for the Shura Council verdict regarding a wage increase deal approved by Cabinet last week.

Views of several Cabinet ministers contacted by As-Safir varied over the Shura Council outcome with some saying the advisory body would approve the plan and others saying it would reject it.

Meanwhile, As-Safir has learned that a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday lacks any hot issue.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told As-Safir that if Cabinet failed to approve during its Wednesday meeting to issue a decree allowing the implementation of an oil exploration law, he will hold a parliamentary session of questions to the government.

He said Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Energy Minister Jibran Bassil had promised to approve the decree before years’ end.

“I won’t accept any violations of this commitment. I will call Parliament to exercise its role and hold the government accountable,” Berri said.

An-Nahar

Wage increase crisis drags on till end of year

Arsal to call for army deployment during meeting with Mikati [Tuesday]

The government appears to be facing two crises: the first one concerns the controversy over the pay hike decision and the second over statements made by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn about the infiltration of terrorists from Al-Qaeda into Syria.

While the Shura Council decision regarding the pay raise is expected before Cabinet’s Wednesday meeting, ministerial sources told An-Nahar that the wage increase remains a thorny issue.

In the wake of Ghosn’s statements, a huge delegation from Arsal will meet Mikati, who returned to Beirut last night after a private visit abroad. The delegation will call for an army deployment along the border to maintain security and address gaps.