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-Jamhouria

Sleiman increases border security

Rifi tells Al-Jamhouria: There’s no data on Al-Qaeda entering

As the country enters a new year it carries with it the political baggage of the previous one. Security concerns remain at the forefront, with incidents on the Syrian border in Wadi Khaled and information about the entry of Al-Qaeda into Syria. However, some question the validity of the latter claims.

While Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel dismissed claims of “the presence of Al-Qaeda in Lebanon.” He said: “The defense minster’s statements were interpreted in a political manner.” He added: “Lebanon could or could not be a conduit for Al-Qaeda.”

Before leaving to spend the holiday in Dubai, President Michel Sleiman met with Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali. The two discussed “the need for coordination in controlling the border with Syria, and cooperation in investigating the deaths of three Lebanese near the border to prevent a repeat of such incidents.”

Meanwhile, Saad Hariri said that those responsible for killing the three Lebanese would be brought to justice. During a live Twitter session, the former prime minister sent messages of hope to his followers.

In the north, in the Akkar area, tents were set up for people to donate blood and money to support those wounded or displaced from the unrest in Syria.

At the same time, the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp saw demonstrators wearing T-shirts with pictures of President Bashar Assad.

Al-Anwar

Government welcomes New Years’ Eve with bolstering security

Hot issue from last year will carry on till the next. At the forefront: Security inside and at the borders. Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said there was the possibility that Arsal might be a conduit for Al-Qaeda members but that this was not for certain.

President Michel Sleiman, who is expected to leave to an Arab country today, held discussions with Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali and announced that the meeting had covered the need for coordination to prevent incursions and cooperation in a probe of three Lebanese who were killed next to the border with Syria as well as adopting security measures along the border to prevent violations.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, during a news conference Friday, said the subject of Al-Qaeda and the statements of Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn had been misinterpreted and said there was no evidence indicating members of Al-Qaeda were in the country.

“There might be some who feel an affinity to this organization and support their extremist ideology but this does not mean the presence of Al-Qaeda, without discounting the possibly that Lebanon might be a conduit members belonging to Al-Qaeda. However, what is certain is that [Lebanon] is not a sanctuary for them,” Charbel said.

An-Nahar

Angry movement in the north, Damascus complains to Ban about Lebanon’s Al-Qaeda

Berri criticizes Mikati through an intermediary and wages to face fourth [revision]

A new dawn may break with the New Year but it will carry with it old issues, some reaching as far back as the Taif Accord of 1989. Friday saw Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri level sharp criticism at Prime Minister Najib Mikati through an intermediary over the “Office of Prime Minister.” However, security along the border with Syria and the issue of wage hikes remained at the forefront of discussions.

Sources told An-Nahar that a fourth decree would be issued on the issue of raising workers’ wages follow the advice of the Shura Council, which is likely to announce its recommendations Tuesday.

Former Minister Albert Mansour served as intermediary for Berri’s criticism of Mikati. Mansour, after a meeting with Berri, said the speaker had said “there is no institution called the head of the cabinet according to the Constitution.”

Sources close to Mikati and Berri refused to offer comment on the subject and said Mansour alone was responsible for his statements.

Sources said communications took place between the aides of the two leaders, adding that relations between Mikati and Berri were still positive.

Packed crowds took part in demonstration the north in solidarity with the Syrian revolution and held a flag of the revolution that measure 30 meters in length. Akkar MPs said they would question the government about its failure to deploy the army in the Wadi Khaled area after the “repeated aggressions.”

The Foreign Ministry’s delegation at the U.N. was handed a letter dated Dec. 24 from Syria addressed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that discusses the two suicide explosions in Damascus, describing them as “acts of terror.” The statements by [Lebanese] Foreign Minister Fayez Ghosn are mentioned in the body of the text. The letter makes note that there were reports of Al-Qaeda members crossing into Syria from Arsal.