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

Al-Akhbar

Karami after meeting Assad: His confidence made us feel comfortable

Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami quoted Syrian President Bashar Assad as saying that the unrest in Syria is nearing an end “except for some security pockets that are being dealt with.”

"He [Assad] was comfortable that Syria has significantly overcome the crisis.” Karami told reporters Sunday following a meeting in Damascus with Assad, together with his father former Prime Minister Omar Karami.

“His [Assad’s] confidence made us feel comfortable toward Syria’s domestic situation and stability,” Karami said, describing the unrest in Syria as a “conspiracy.”

He said Assad is aware that the aim behind the Syrian uprising is to fragment the country to pave the way into the creation of rival mini-states with a key objective to “comfort Israel.”

Karami praised Prime Minister Najib Mikati “who is seeking to make progress in his work and to assist Tripoli and north Lebanon.”

Ad-Diyar

Hezbollah [provides] political cover for government

Aridi: At the end of the day, [Cabinet] will pass STL funding

Funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon remains a hot issue in light of global pressure on the Lebanese government to force it to commit to international resolutions, an adherence confirmed by both President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati in New York.

However, the majority forces [which make up the government] have stressed that financing the tribunal will not cause the government to implode, as confirmed by Hezbollah lawmakers and officials who declared support for the Mikati government.

Meanwhile, Public Works and Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said that, at the end of the day, funding for the STL will “quietly” pass.

Al-Mustaqbal

Berri pessimistic from Tehran and Ahmad Hariri, speaking on behalf of Saad Hariri, promises "[Arab] Spring for all Arabs"

While Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed from Tehran after meeting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that "the region is undergoing developments that trigger concerns and fears,” the secretary-general of the Future Movement Ahmed Hariri, speaking on behalf of Future Movement leader Saad Hariri, said that the “coming spring will be a spring for all the Arabs in Beirut. There will be wonderful days filled with happiness and hope for a safe and stable future for all the Lebanese.”

“Injustice and fear are near an end,” Ahmad Hariri said, stressing that “Beirut, which toppled Israeli illusions to end the Palestinian cause … will remain faithful to the Arab Spring, the sacrifices of its youth, aspirations and hopes."

As-Safir

Nahhas: We will offer something historic

LL250,000 pay raise, tuition aid grant, LL4,000 transportation aid

Trade unions’ strike hangs over talks in Cabinet this week. Living costs become a priority with the start of the new week as trade unions will press for a pay raise and increase in social allowances as the government prepares to tackle living costs with the trade unions ahead of a strike scheduled for Oct. 12.

Cabinet will hold an ordinary meeting at Baabda Palace on Wednesday and ministerial sources told As-Safir that the session will not tackle the longstanding public appointments issue or funding for the STL.

Three committees stemming from the Cost of Living Index Committee will hold a series of meetings Monday through Wednesday after which they will all meet under Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas who will present his report to Cabinet before Oct. 12.

The Index Committee, despite efforts exerted by Nahhas, may only come out with LL250,000 pay raise, in addition to temporary tuition aid grants pending improvement of public schools and the Lebanese University, an issue that would take years to resolve.

Labor Union chief Ghassan Ghosn told As-Safir that the union sticks to its demands, adding that this week is going to be crucial regarding the issue of salary increase.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas, denied knowledge of compromise on pay raise.

An-Nahar

Government's approach toward postponing STL funding

Interior Ministry gets ready for municipal by-elections

As differences within the government over funding for the STL mount, following the return of Prime Minister Najib Mikati from New York, attempts to curb the escalation emerged Sunday with a promise to put the issue up for behind-the-scenes discussions.

Prominent sources told An-Nahar that the STL funding as well as the issue of public appointments were not on Cabinet’s agenda this week.

They said there is a strong possibility that the issue of financing the tribunal will be postponed for a while, following differences that emerged over the issue in public.