Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese and pan-Arab newspapers Sunday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

Ad-Diyar: Decision to fund the tribunal is between Sleiman and Mikati

Prime Minster Najib Mikati flew back from New York and the issue of financing the international tribunal was again brought up in Lebanon. Upon his arrival, Mikati met with President Michel Sleiman to resolve the issue away from the media and the ruckus which began with Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas' aggressive remarks when he said: “we will not finance the tribunal and the president and prime minister's commitment does not apply to the parliament.”

Mikati's sources believe that the issue should be resolved in a calm manner just like the issue of the electricity bill was handled. They added that the important thing is that an agreement should be reached without the possibility of imposing sanctions on Lebanon. Sources added that the prime minister was under international surveillance throughout his visit to New York. Big countries were watching Lebanon and whether it would commit to international resolutions.

Aside from that, any sanctions on Syria will also include Lebanon, especially if Lebanon officially decides to stop implementing international resolutions.

Mikati's sources believe that implementing resolutions should not be selective and that Lebanon is committed to all of them. But sources close to the majority reject the idea of the funding, describing the tribunal as illegal and unconstitutional. But Mikati's solution lies outside the government away from the Parliament and the Cabinet.

Al Mustaqbal: Higher council supports popular uprisings, criticizes bloodshed

Until now, there is no end in sight for the issue of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, especially with the contradictory statements from the government. Mystery surrounds the exit plan that is supposed to put an end to the crisis which includes Lebanon's commitment to international resolutions; something that Prime Minister Najib Mikati kept repeating in front of the world. But he still has to please his allies, especially Hezbollah that opposes the tribunal.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Legal Council affirmed Makati’s commitment to funding the tribunal which "aims at achieving justice and punish those who killed former statesman Rafik hariri."

After its meeting, the council also demanded an end to the bloodshed and violations of human life in front of the world.

As for the issue of the funding, Mikati's sources told Al-Mustaqbal that the current phase is dialogue and any attempts to place Mikati in conflicts will not succeed because his stance is clear and has been announced. They added that Mikati is seeking to resolve the issue through calm, positive dialogue and constrictive understanding away from disputes.

An-Nahar

Legal Council backs revolutions, against Rai’s fears

Rai to America: Read what the Vatican says

What was issued from the Islamic Legal Council in terms of stances after its meeting Saturday under Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani was in contrast to the position during the spiritual summit at the same Dar al-Fatwa. These stances coincided with the beginning of Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai’s visit to the United States which the religious leader insisted was not political.

The meeting between President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati signaled a resumption of work into the issues that authorities will need to tackle and this before the Wednesday meeting of the Cabinet. Meanwhile, viewpoints by different elements in the government on the issue of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon surfaced which mobilized behind-the-scenes talks in order to find an understanding that would prevent what happened over the electricity draft law.

Amid this, the issue of workers’ demands has surfaced which has now entered the stage of given and take.

The Legal Council’s meeting provided an opportunity to clarify a number of issues, prominent sources at the meeting told An-Naha. The sources said the meeting was a calm one. The discussions clarified that Dar al-Fatwa need not be with either March 8 or March 14.

The statement following the meeting stressed that there needed to be immediate cessation to the killing of civilians and end to the “abuse of human dignity and life that is being seen in front of the eyes of the world.”

The statement touched on “what is being said about the future of Christians in the Arab and Muslim world,” in a reference to Rai’s statements, and said: “these fears could lead to sectarian strife and divide the country."

Before Rai left to the United States he said it was enough for people to read what the Vatican has written to determine whether his views are tune with them or not.

AL-Hayat

Future Movement: stick to ministerial statement, Amal Movement: Dialogue should be the judge, do not complicate things

President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the latter arriving in Beirut from New York Satruday morning, discussed the current situation on the domestic level and other issues that the Cabinet will discuss in its upcoming session that is scheduled for next Wednesday. Mikati and Sleiman agreed to place 140 items on the agenda chosen out of 370.

Sources told AL-Hayat that funding the tribunal was not one of the items, saying: "It is [too] early to discuss this item and we still have until November [when the payment is due]."

Sleiman’s press office said that Mikati spoke to Sleiman about the meetings and discussions the prime minister had in New York, especially those related to the Palestinian statehood and Lebanon’s efforts to help.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah met with Marada Movement MP Sleiman Franjieh, according to a statement released by Hezbollah. The two discussed the latest political developments in Lebanon and the region and both evaluated the performance of the government in the last period and what lies ahead.