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-Mustaqbal

Electricity [bill] off to Parliament with both sides claiming “victory” in decision

Hezbollah attacks Future Movement, Fatfat reminds Hezbollah of its nature as a militia

Political bickering between rival political parties lingered a day after Cabinet approved a controversial electricity plan which is on its way to Parliament for approval.

While some in the majority team [the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition] hailed the approval of the electricity bill as an “achievement” for the Change and Reform bloc and its leader MP Michel Aoun, the opposition [the Hariri-led March 14 alliance] praised the government as a whole for the plan, adding that it had met one of its demands that a regulatory body to oversee the plan’s spending be established.

March 14 labeled the decision as a victory over a “development issue and a political defeat for Energy Minister Jibran Bassil and his father-in-law, [MP] Gen. Michel Aoun.”

The opposition also said it would deal “objectively” with the electricity plan since it is vital and a concern for citizens.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad defended Amal Movement head and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over leaked U.S. cables published by Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that related to the period that accompanied and followed the July-August 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel.

However, Raad’s defense was tantamount to an attack on the political rhetoric adopted by the Future Movement, its parliamentary bloc and its media outlets.

“Their public speaking has led them to demolish the remaining bridge of communication with Lebanese nationalists by targeting Speaker Nabih Berri,” Raad said.

Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat hit back at Raad, saying his speech was “clearly militia-like in nature.”

Al-Liwaa

Rai’s “radical” positions toward Syria caused panic among Christians

Aoun raises Sunni appointments with Mikati at a “suspicion time”

Barely after Lebanon’s political body was comfortable with putting the electricity plan on the appropriate path, both at the Cabinet and parliamentary levels, MP Michel Aoun – through a television appearance late Thursday – created a new crisis by calling for the approval of a decision concerning the removal of Lebanon’s key security, military and judicial officials.

These include the prosecutor general, head of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), head of the ISF’s Information Branch and government representative to the military court, in addition to the chairman of Ogero under the pretext of “violating the law.”

Aoun also slammed those protecting the officials as acting above the law, a reference to Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Aoun did not spare Interior Minister Marwan Charbel or even President Michel Sleiman on the casino issue. He also revealed a “cold” relationship with MP Walid Jumblatt.

Aoun described the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as “unconstitutional” and would not clearly say whether he objected to funding the court.

Unlike March 14 politicians -- who were busy reviewing the radical statements by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai on the need to give Damascus more time to implement reforms for fear of a transitional period taken over by Islamists -- Aoun voiced exceptional enthusiasm toward Rai’s position.

Rai’s statements, according to well-informed sources, are likely to provoke negative reactions after already causing panic among Christians, particularly in the ranks of the March 14 coalition which has voiced criticism of Rai’s positions.

Ad-Diyar

Confrontation … ongoing

Maybe the electricity crisis is over but the confrontation continues over many issues, including a battle between Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gen. Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and some Sunni ministers over posts at the Internal Security forces, particularly that of ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and ISF Information Branch chief Col. Wissam Hasan.

A battle is always being waged over the posts of Ogero chairman Abdel Monem Youssef, Cabinet’s Secretary-General Suheil Bouji and head of the Development and Reconstruction Council Samir Jisr.

Among the confrontations is a face-off between Hezbollah and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which mean a confrontation between Mikati and the international community as he will not be able to secure a majority vote from ministers for the tribunal’s funding.

Yet another confrontation is likely to be between Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai and March 14 Christian leaders, the latter expressing strong hostility toward Damascus. Rai has supported giving Assad a chance to implement reforms, expressing his concerns that Christians would face discrimination should the Muslim Brotherhood take power in Syria.

Moreover, an upcoming confrontation is expected between the Muslim fundamentalist group Jamaa Islamiya and the Maronite patriarch, which appeared in a statement made by Mufti Mohammad Ali Jouzou, who is not affiliated to Jamaa Islamiya.

A fierce confrontation is also likely between Speaker Nabih Berri and the Future Movement over WikiLeaks documents and Berri’s vehement attacks.

Later on, a confrontation between the Transport Association and the Labor Unions is likely to lead to strikes against the government with demands for salary raises and higher transportation fees, which would increase the budget deficit.

And, the ongoing confrontation between President Michel Sleiman and Aoun is expected to continue.

However, a clear confrontation has emerged with Aoun’s comments against Interior Minister Marwan Charbel over public appointments.

Al-Akhbar

Future Movement in Western Bekaa: dreaming of parliamentary [seats]

Since 2005, the Future Movement has spread its influence in the Western Bekaa, east Lebanon, and declared it its kingdom. Six years later and following Jumblatt’s exit from the March 14 coalition, we begin to see a power struggle over parliamentary seats. What adds to the crisis in this strategic region is an ongoing conflict within the symbolic figures of the Future Movement.

The obstacles are growing for the Future Movement in Western Bekaa: a power struggle over parliamentary seats, agitation among the grassroots, and a “rude” growth of its allies in their region. At least four names are dreaming of seats alongside MP Saad Hariri in the 2013 parliamentary elections.

As-Safir

Aoun: We don’t recognize the STL … Jumblatt: Appointments must start

Rai: Israeli occupation must end before Hezbollah arms [disarms]

After approval of the electricity bill, the government has entered the next stage: to move forward and implement the plan.

Meanwhile, political tension reached its highest level between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Future Movement over the group’s campaign against Berri.

The political battle between the Future Movement and Berri seemed to be open-ended as both sides warned they would step up their rhetoric.

It is significant that the majority rallied behind Berri in parallel with a similar support by the Higher Shiite Council.

Hezbollah stepped in, defended Berri and blasted the Future Movement, accusing its media outlets of “being far from the logic of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his style and manners.”

Raad said he believed that the Future Movement’s isolation from political power has “made it lose its mind where it no longer wants a state, a Constitution or laws.”

Jumblatt, meanwhile, told As-Safir he hoped that the electricity bill would soon be endorsed in Parliament and urged the government to take action on the issue of administrative appointments.

An-Nahar

Wide-scale Shiite campaign to “defend” Berri as “Future” warns against “peak terror” [threat]

Rai: Muslim Brotherhood rule in Syria will make Christians pay the price

Immediately after the government closed the door on the electricity bill crisis which was approved by Cabinet Wednesday, a negative development emerged raising doubts and questions that are likely to increase the complexity of the next issue on Cabinet’s agenda: the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The development surfaced when a war of words turned fierce between the Future Movement and Shiite authorities, who came out all at once defending Berri against WikiLeaks cables published by Al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

Sources concerned with this issue told An-Nahar they believed this development is likely to constitute an additional complication when the Cabinet has to address the funding issue.

The campaign to defend Berri expanded when the Higher Shiite Islamic Council stepped in Thursday and described the media campaign as “degenerating” and “distorting.”

The council said the media rhetoric has targeted “national, political and spiritual figures, particularly the parliament speaker and his national role.”

A senior Future Movement source, for his part, described the council’s statement and remarks made by Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad as“the peak of political and intellectual terror.”