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-Joumhouria

U.N. votes against Assad today

Ban renews STL protocol after Lebanon takes note

Political and legal circles were busy mulling over Lebanon’s ambiguous decision on the issue of the renewal of the protocol agreement with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

An official announcement only said that Lebanon “has taken note.”

On the eve of the expiry of a deadline set by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon for Lebanon to have its say on Ban’s letter, in which he suggested renewing the STL protocol for another three years, the Presidential Palace announced that President Michel Sleiman briefed both Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi on the details of the letter and, based on an agreement with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanon has taken note of [the renewal].

An-Nahar

STL protocol renewal passes smoothly with few words: ‘we have taken note’

Jumblatt for a new Taif and criticizes BIEL [festival]

Similar to the government’s “disassociation” policy, even if modified, Lebanon implicitly agreed on the renewal of the STL protocol in a few words: “we have taken note.”

Unlike the lengthy political dispute that preceded Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s move to finance the STL for more than two months, the “magical” formula of the STL protocol extension passed smoothly and without much hubbub or reactions, at least until now.

Ad-Diyar

Jumblatt: We need a new Taif [Accord] between Sunnis and Shiites

Cabinet crisis ongoing, Nasrallah speech today

The Cabinet crisis lingers and the suspension of Cabinet sessions does not seem to bother anyone. Perhaps the different sides are waiting for new domestic and regional developments to occur before convening Cabinet and taking any stances.

Ministerial sources said there were “hidden” reasons behind the Cabinet crisis which are deeper than the dispute over Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ non-signing of a transport allowance decree.

They said the crisis perhaps has to do with the renewal of a protocol agreement with the STL and a Feb. 24 meeting of “friends of Syria” in Tunis.

Meanwhile, remarks made by MP Walid Jumblatt Wednesday that the Taif Accord was over and that Lebanon needed a new Taif sparked a “storm.”

As-Safir

‘Implicit’ renewal of STL [protocol] ... Jumblatt announces ‘end’ of Taif Accord

Suspension of Cabinet sessions seemed to have achieved one of its goals – passing the renewal of the STL protocol for another three years on the grounds that the “crippled” government’s non-response to Ban’s letter implicitly means agreeing to it.

The scenario was as follows: President Michel Sleiman informed both the foreign and justice ministers of details of the letter sent to him by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, in which he expressed his intention to renew the protocol agreement for another three years.

A statement issued by the presidential palace said Lebanon has “taken note” as a result of an “agreement with Prime Minister Najib Mikati.”

Al-Liwaa

Lebanon ‘has taken note’ of STL protocol renewal ... so what will Nasrallah say today?

Mikati awaits initiative ... while Berri awaits regional signals

March 8 ignores Hariri calls and Jumblatt calls for Assad’s ouster and a Sunni-Shiite Taif Accord

“We have taken note.” This was the outcome of President Michel Sleiman’s meetings with both Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi in which Ban Ki-moon’s letter calling for a three-year renewal of the STL protocol was discussed.

And with this phrase “we have taken note,” which was discussed between Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Lebanese government implicitly agreed on the renewal of the protocol pending a decision from the U.N. Security Council.

Al-Mustaqbal

Sleiman has been informed of Ban’s intention to renew STL protocol

Cabinet crisis lingers ... Hezbollah still argues

The Cabinet crisis lingers without any progress on resolving the many issues.

On the contrary, the crisis seems to be deteriorating in light of positions by Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Free Patriotic Movement, particularly Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas, who denied having signed the transport allowance decree and said he would not resign or leave the country.

Meanwhile, March 14 forces were waiting for a speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah Thursday to find out his response to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who stretched out a hand to Hezbollah [during a televised speech Tuesday].

Al-Akhbar

Sleiman turns page on STL protocol renewal: We took note

Just as the funding, which ended by means of a magical solution, so was the case of the renewal of the STL protocol after President Michel Sleiman announced that Lebanon “has taken note” of the extension of the tribunal in his response to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s letter, away from the inactive Cabinet.