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

An-Nahar

3 killed in Syrian intelligence incursion in north Lebanon

Private sector commits to agreement with workers’ union

While officials were busy with the Al-Qaeda story on the eastern border in the wake of a statement by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Syrian intelligence crossed the northern border into Lebanese territory, killing three Lebanese men in Wadi Khaled.

The killing raises questions about the measures to be taken by Lebanese authorities in the face of these events, especially since Ghosn’s controversial remarks about the Bekaa border town of Arsal [accusing it of sheltering Al-Qaeda members] will be discussed during Cabinet’s meeting Wednesday.

Meanwhile, President Michel Sleiman met with a delegation from the Economic Associations headed by former Cabinet Minister Adnan Qassar, who said the private sector rejected the government’s latest pay hike decision, adding that they would commit to a previous agreement with the General Confederation Union.

Delegation member Mohammad Choucair told An-Nahar that he had asked Sleiman not to sign the new pay raise decree even if the Shura Council approved it. Otherwise, Lebanon’s economy would collapse.

Choucair said the associations’ stance would also be conveyed to Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri.

Al-Joumhouria

Mikati won’t give up ... preparing for counter-attack

The government is on the brink of the abyss, amid reports of differences between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the March 8 coalition having reached their peak

According to information made available to Al-Joumhouria, intensive behind-the-scene talks have taken place in an effort to bridge the gap between government ministers ahead of Wednesday’s Cabinet session.

However, the talks were in vain as Mikati believes he was stabbed in the back and that there are some sides that want to curtail him and hold him accountable after his decision to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and for not yielding to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, particularly in terms of administrative and judicial appointments.

Sources close to Mikati stressed that Aoun would not destroy Mikati, adding that the prime minister is getting ready for a confrontation with Aoun over public appointments after FPM ministers put a controversial wage increase decision to a vote.

Al-Liwaa

Cabinet closes page on pay hikes by returning to Mikati’s decision

Government, Parliament respond to calls for arms-free Beirut

Cabinet awaits the Shura Council’s stance on a pay hike decision prior to a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Economic Associations rushed to put forward a draft agreement signed with the General Labor Confederation on pay hikes. The GLC insisted on publishing the decree in the Official Gazette.

If all goes smoothly, the GLC will win.

Ad-Diyar

Beirut lawmakers press for arms-free city and closure of Palestinian [militant] bases in Naameh

A new dispute surfaced Tuesday amid leaked reports that Beirut lawmakers pressed for an arms-free Greater Beirut, demanding the closure of Palestinian militant bases in Naameh.

These bases, which belong to the [Syrian-backed] Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, have been in the area since 1975.

The lawmakers called for the withdrawal of light and medium weapons from Greater Beirut. They made it clear that their call for disarmament does not include resistance arsenal.

They told Mikati that Greater Beirut extends from the Damour overpass, south of Beirut, to Nahr al-Kalb to the north.