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

Quiet Parliament, Cabinet postponement precede storms

Bloody Syrian incursion amid new data about [Jasem] kidnappings

Parliamentary sources described what happened in Parliament Tuesday morning on the issue of re-electing secretaries and reshuffling several committee members as well as events at Cabinet level on the issue of the draft 2012 state budget as “the calm ahead of a political storm.” Sources said the issue of the funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was skirted in order to avoid a split in the government.

The dispute over financing the STL and its impact on the draft budget also reveals that the parliamentary majority, which emerged last January, no longer exists at the Cabinet level.

Meanwhile, a report released by the Internal Security Forces implicating the Syrian Embassy in the kidnappings of four Syrian brothers from the Jasem family has prompted reactions at both the parliamentary and judicial levels.

Judicial sources told An-Nahar that the parents of the Jasem brothers initially told police that their children had been kidnapped, prompting the military court to open an investigation.

After a while, the sources added, the parents dropped the suit, saying their sons were in Syria. The case was then referred to the public prosecutor.

Al-Joumhouria

Nasrallah informed Jumblatt about Iran’s ‘firm position’ toward supporting Syria

Cabinet not close to finalizing budget ... Teachers strike Wednesday

Al-Joumhouria has learned from well-informed sources that Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah informed head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt during a recent meeting that Syria in the “short run will witness the implementation of a comprehensive reform plan.”

During the meeting, Nasrallah repeated several times that Syrian President Bashar Assad “will carry out reforms.”

The sources said Nasrallah made no secret that his image had been damaged and shaken in some parts of Syria.

They said Nasrallah did not either try to pressure Jumblatt, influence or even persuade him to change his positions regarding the Syrian uprising. Instead, he sought to convince Jumblatt that the Syrian regime would overcome the crisis and disprove Jumblatt’s belief that change in Syria was impossible.

According to sources, Nasrallah also conveyed Iran’s firm position toward supporting Assad “to the end.”

Al-Akhbar

Budget in a state of clinical death

Cabinet postponed Tuesday debate on the 2012 state budget.

Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting ended with a request by Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi that ministers submit their comments on the draft budget in writing to Cabinet within 10 days.

This was a sign that the ministers and the blocs they represent wish to shelve the draft budget in order to avoid tension that is likely to be stirred when it comes to discussing the issue of funding the STL.

A Cabinet minister described Tuesday’s meeting as “a brainstorming session on the draft budget.”

Ad-Diyar

Cockfight over STL funding

Future Movement: those who reject funding protect criminals

Aoun: I won’t pay costs ... I won’t succumb

Funding the STL remains a mystery to the allies within the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Those who advocate funding have found means to finance the STL, while those who reject it won’t expose Lebanon to the dangers of sanctions in the event the government does not meet its obligations toward international resolutions.

Amid this crisis, tensions mounted among allies in the government. The Future Movement also said those rejecting the funding of the STL would be siding with criminals.

Meanwhile, Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun hit back at Mikati who said Israel would benefit if Lebanon failed to pay its share of the STL funds.

“I bravely stand up here to say that I don’t want to pay the [STL] costs and I won’t succumb to intimidation,” Aoun said.