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-Joumhouria: Obama urges halt [to transfer] of weapons from Syria to Lebanon

Connelly stresses help in maritime border demarcation

All eyes turn to Syria Friday in order to monitor the new demonstrations under the slogan “your silence is killing us,” in reference to Arab silence on the severity of the Syrian regime in dealing with the protesters.

As the Avaaz non-governmental organization announced that almost 3,000 people have gone missing in Syria since the start of anti-regime protests mid-March, al-Qaeda’s new leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, intervened in the Syrian crisis to praise anti-Assad protestors in Syria and to express regret that he and his fellow fighters could not join ordinary Syrians in their uprising.

On the eve of the Syrian Friday, the U.S. stepped up its pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad with President Barack Obama extending a freeze imposed in 2007 on assets of persons threatening stability in Lebanon, a decision that targets Syria directly.

Justifying his actions, Obama said that “certain ongoing activities, such as continuing arms transfers to Hezbollah that include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty.”

For his part, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Assad “is fueling sectarian violence in Syria to scare the Syrians and discourage them from demanding a regime change and that in order to strengthen his monopoly power, he [Assad] intentionally ignited racist-based violence.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to return to Beirut by week’s end to preside over a Cabinet meeting on Aug. 2 with a packed agenda, according to a ministerial source, who noted that judicial appointments are off the table.

Regarding the promised all-party talks, President Michel Sleiman maintained contact to explore the possibility of reviving the dialogue table.

Moreover, a source from the March 14 coalition said that MP Walid Jumblatt’s tireless attempts to communicate with March 14 forces did not find the appropriate response.

The source revealed that a March 14 leader had dinner with Jumblatt at his invitation during which Jumblatt made a telephone call with former MP Ghattas Khoury.

U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly visited Speaker Nabih Berri Thursday but the U.S. Embassy denied reports that Connelly met Hezbollah Cabinet Minister Mohammad Fneish.

Connelly stressed during the meeting that Washington would help Lebanon, alongside the U.N., in maritime border demarcation.

Ad-Diyar: ISF source: We reject a tradeoff to keep Rifi and Hasan in return for Fayez Karam’s release

Elections, proportional representation discussed between Jumblatt, Rai as Lassa issue aggravates

Connelly to Berri: Extract oil from non-disputed areas

Differences widened regarding the issue of appointments of governors or the president of the Lebanese University in light of Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun’s demand to compensate the loss of the General Security post [which went to a Shiite] for giving the Lebanese University presidency to a Christian.

After a hearing for alleged Israeli collaborator Fayez Karam Thursday was postponed till the end of August, rumors surfaced about a tradeoff that called for keeping police chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Col. Wissam Hasan in their posts in return for Karam’s release.

But a source in the Internal Security Forces told Ad-Diyar “such a bargain was unacceptable and is rejected.”

The Italian Embassy telephoned Berri’s office Thursday to inform him that a decision to withdraw 700 Italian soldiers serving with UNIFIL was due to financial reasons and had nothing to do with Tuesday’s bomb that targeted French UNIFIL troops.

Ad-Diyar has learned that Connelly told Berri during Thursday’s meeting, when he inquired about media reports of an imminent visit by Frederick Hof to discuss the maritime border demarcation issue, that she had no information in this regard.

Berri was surprised by a question from Connelly as to why Lebanon does not take the initiative and begin working in its territorial waters, given that Israel is now working in non-disputed areas.

Berri responded, telling Connelly that regardless of this subject, Lebanon is concerned with demarcating its border with occupied Palestine [Israel], through the help of the United Nations.

Berri also stressed to Connelly that Lebanon would not sign a peace deal with Israel, not on oil and not on anything else, and pointed out to the cease-fire agreement.

AL-Liwaa: Obama extends freeze on Lebanese assets … Connelly: Government ruled by Hezbollah

Jumblatt: Proportional-based electoral system untimely

Mikati returns today to face aggravated disputes … Aoun demands university presidency

Parliamentary sources told Al-Liwaa that Jumblatt, who visited Diman Thursday, informed Patriarch Beshara Rai that he totally rejects draft proposals for a proportional-based electoral law, describing such a law as “untimely, not in Lebanon or the region.”

On the diplomatic level, Connelly discussed with Berri the issue of maritime border demarcation and ways to contain a dispute between Lebanon and Israel over oil and gas fields in territorial waters.

But the most dangerous thing that Connelly reportedly said during a farewell ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy for an employee named Ryan was: “Although there are only two Hezbollah ministers in the [Lebanon] Cabinet, Hezbollah is the one that controls the government.”

Connelly added that the government served the interests of foreign countries.

Mikati will resume his duties at the Grand Serail Saturday after ending a summer vacation with his family.

As for Energy Minister Jibran Bassil’s visit to Damascus two days ago, where he met Syrian President Bashar Assad, sources revealed that Bassil had heard advice from Syria as to the need to facilitate Mikati’s task and not to embarrass him by raising issues that might reflect negatively on his relationship with the people.

Al-Akhbar: Obama extends freeze on Lebanese assets: Syrian ambassador views Jumblatt’s statements as positive

Thursday was American par excellence. In the morning, someone leaked information that U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly met State Minister Mohammad Fneish, prompting the U.S. Embassy to deny the report. Connelly, however, did meet with Speaker Nabih Berri.

MP Samir Jisr announced from Tripoli that the Future Movement leadership in Tripoli and the North would soon meet to set out a political-media strategy to “bring down the government or restore the parliamentary majority which was taken from us under the threat of arms and non-fulfillment of some of the obligations made to the public.”

In this regard, opposition leaders were meeting almost periodically to put together a new strategy following political developments that have taken place in recent months. Those meetings are being attended by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and his deputy, MP George Adwan, Kataeb Party official MP Sami Gemayel, MP Nohad Mashnouq and March 14 General Coordinator Fares Soueid.