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.

An-Nahar

Majority gets ready to finance STL

Geagea: [There are] attempts to drown Bkirki

Even though Cabinet will not address significant items such as public appointments and funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, a well-informed ministerial source told An-Nahar that the issue of financing the court would be a hot topic as of October given that a decision in this regard cannot face further delays.

The source said that strong and firm commitments made by both President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati in New York in terms of respecting international resolutions, particularly those concerning the financing of the STL, require speedy action from everybody because the international community will judge Lebanon based on its adherence to U.N. decisions.

Meanwhile, in response to a visit by Damascus’ Mufti [Sheikh Adnan Afyouni Wednesday] to Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told An-Nahar that the Syrian delegation’s visit is an “attempt to plunge the patriarch into stances he did not really make.”

“It is true that the patriarch expressed some sympathy here and asked some questions there, but he certainly did not declare the positions that they are trying to attribute to both him and Bkirki.”

Al-Mustaqbal

Seeking to reactivate defense strategy dialogue, Sleiman: Lebanon is committed to implement international obligations

President Michel Sleiman told visitors Thursday that Lebanon was obliged to implement its commitments toward the international community regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Sleiman also stressed his commitment “to revive national dialogue because it is the basis for the country’s stability.”

“We must reach a defense strategy that will satisfy all the Lebanese in order to close the file on the weapons issue which has caused [political] bickering,” Sleiman was quoted as saying.

Slemian said he supports a system of proportional representation for the elections in Lebanon that are in line with the Taif Accord.

Ad-Diyar

Patriarch Rai’s and Mufti Qabbani’s bias toward March 8 reshuffles balance of power in Lebanon

The Future Movement accuses Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani of turning against the group [led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri] after refusing to rescue the Mufti’s son from financial trouble. This is why Qabbani sided up with the March 8 coalition in protest against March 14.

Rai, for his part, sided with the March 8 alliance on its position regarding [Hezbollah] weapons. While the March 14 coalition is saying “no to weapons,” Rai is saying “yes to weapons.”

These two issues have reshuffled the balance of power and now the March 8 coalition is much more at ease with its political, spiritual and religious status.

However, the Future Movement enjoys the backing of the majority of the muftis in the north, the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon as well as Beirut. Therefore the Hariri group does not plan to renew Qabbani’s term whereas the March 8 camp has promised to extend Qabbani’s tenure for life.

Al-Liwaa

Mikati in Damascus next week after Cabinet meeting

10-day security measures around ESCWA amid municipality rejection

Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji is expected to visit the U.S. in the first half of October for talks with the new U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey to discuss U.S. military aide to Lebanon.

Regarding funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, an official said no decision has been made yet in this regard, adding that Prime Minister Najib Mikati would hold behind-the-scenes meetings with the political parties represented in the government, particularly with Hezbollah, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, the latter having voiced his backing for funding the court. An exchange of views between Mikati and MP Michel Aoun would be useless.

Meanwhile, security measures taken around ESCWA headquarters in Down Town Beirut as part of security measures requested by the U.N. has angered Beirut municipality head Bilal Hamad who sent out a protest letter calling that part of the road be kept open to “facilitate movement.”