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

Washington monitors banks, London [monitors] decisions

Security assurances as STL awaits suspects’ [handover]

Domestic political activity resumes Wednesday following Eid al-Adha holiday which saw international activity instead, including talks in London between Prime Minister Najib Mikati and British officials, statements from Washington urging Lebanon to commit to international obligations in terms of paying its share of funds for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and remarks made by STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare that in absentia trials were premature.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who told An-Nahar that he is committed to relaunching national dialogue, is expected to meet President Michel Sleiman Wednesday.

Meanwhile a security source said reports that circulated during the holiday and in the wake of remarks made by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel about security problems were “fabricated.”

In response to similar reports about the likelihood of assassinations and bombings, the security source told An-Nahar these reports were merely signals from embassies and diplomats who monitor chaos in the region and fear similar incidents taking place in Lebanon.

These reports are not based on concrete information, the sources added.

In Washington, the Treasury Department said that U.S. officials will travel to Jordan and Lebanon to discuss the impact of economic sanctions on Syria.

A statement from the Treasury said the Treasury Department's assistant secretary who investigates terrorism financing Daniel Glaser is expected to brief officials in Beirut and Amman against possible attempts by Syria to evade U.S. and European Union sanctions through the Lebanese and Jordanian financial sectors.

As-Safir

Pay raise, [state] budget issues ... [go] to confrontation

With the end of Eid al-Adha holiday, pending issues such as the election and state budget laws will be discussed during a Cabinet meeting Thursday.

Another heated topic on the agenda is pay increases, and there are many conflicting theories and points of view in this arena.

Meanwhile, as certain domestic sides continue to spread a negative security climate and promote the possibility of assassinations and incidents, well-informed sources told As-Safir that these reports are fabricated for political reasons.

The sources stressed that the security situation is under control.

Al-Liwaa

Assad conveys to President [Sleiman] regret over ‘unintended violations’

Sleiman wants Lebanon to pay its share of STL funds

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah will deliver a speech on Friday on the occasion of Martyr Day.

Nasrallah is expected to tackle the issue of financing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the situation in Syria and the latest developments in the region, particularly in light of tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Meanwhile, President Michel Sleiman said he believed that the winds of change blowing in the region will continue until democracy and freedom have been achieved.

Regarding border violations by the Syrian army, Sleiman revealed that Syrian President Bashar Assad has conveyed his regret over the “unintended violations,” and promised that breaches would not be repeated out of respect for Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.

Sleiman noted in this regard that the Syrians had planted mines along the border to prevent infiltration and smuggling.

Sleiman reiterated his position regarding Lebanon’s commitment to international legitimacy and respect for all decisions, including its commitment to the STL, and the payment of Lebanon’s share of funds out of belief and conviction, and not under the influence of intimidation.

Ad-Diyar

Aoun: Events in Syria are over

The multi-headed battle between the March 8 coalition and the Future Movement has kicked off with an attack by the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) against former Prime Minister [and the head of the Future parliamentary bloc] Fouad Siniora over the treasury issue.

Meanwhile, and remarkably enough, were remarks on Syria made by FPM leader Gen. Michel Aoun and Future Movement head Saad Hariri.

While Aoun was adamant that the uprising in Syria was “over,” Hariri believed that “anything could happen, and NATO could enter Syria, after what we saw in Homs in terms of killings of civilians.”

“Ask me next Tuesday if there are [going to be] events [unrest],” Aoun told reporters following the weekly FPM meeting Tuesday.