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

Al-Joumhouria

Al-Qaeda chapters continue [to unfold] as March 14 reads Franjieh’s remarks as “Syrian messages”

Pending the issuance of the first Arab League report on Syria, diplomatic sources in Washington told Al-Joumhouria that the U.S. administration will dispatch two envoys soon to convey letters to world capitals, including Lebanon, warning them that it will impose sanctions on central banks if they were found to be cooperating with Iran.

Cabinet will meet Wednesday afternoon at the Presidential Palace in Baabda with 73 items on its agenda, most importantly the issue of oil exploration.

[Speaker Nabih Berri has threatened to question the government in Parliament should it fail to approve a decree to implement an oil exploration law.]

A ministerial source told Al-Joumhouria that Cabinet would discuss the controversial allegations that members of AL-Qaeda were present in Lebanon.

Sources told Al-Joumhouria that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has urged security officers to refrain from responding to remarks on this matter.

Leader of the Future Movement, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, described as “useless” attempts to turn the Al-Qaeda issue into a dispute between residents and the Lebanese Army.

Prominent sources in the March 14 coalition said remarks by Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh Monday were threats from Syria to the Lebanese people that a bombing attack would take place in Lebanon.

The sources were referring to Franjieh’s statement that he had been the target of a massive campaign during the days he was interior minister after being accused of the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri.

Al-Liwaa

Hariri rejects turning [Al-Qaeda] conflict into dispute between residents and [Lebanese] Army

[Parliamentary] defense committee mulls summoning Ghosn

Nahhas trying to delay Shura Council verdict

Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh threw the fireball after it burned his man in the government, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, and nearly threatened his ambitions as head of the Marada movement.

It’s the Al-Qaeda fireball which he threw in the face of President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati and tried to embarrass the Lebanese Army command.

Franjieh also steered his campaign against the Future Movement and its leader, Saad Hariri. He even dealt a strong political blow to the Maronite gathering in Bkirki by saying that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s history “tarnishes the image of the country."

Hariri responded to Franjieh via Twitter saying it was “useless” to turn the Al-Qaeda conflict into a dispute between residents and the Lebanese Army.

Chairman of the parliamentary defense committee, MP Samir Jisr, called for summoning Ghosn Monday over his claims that Al-Qaeda was operating in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, two obstacles face the controversial pay raise issue: the Shura Council’s verdict to be followed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s decision. Mikati has previously warned that he will not sign the wage increase unless there is a deal between the private sector and the General Labor Confederation (GLC).

Sources told Al-Liwaa that the Shura Council recommendations, to be issued Tuesday or Wednesday morning, would not approve the part of the Cabinet decision that deals with the transportation allowance because the case does not fall within its jurisdiction.

The sources said that prior to the Shura Council decision a meeting would likely to be held between Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas and Judge Shukri Sader, the chairman of the Shura Council.

If this happens it would not be the first meeting between the two men as similar gatherings have taken place in recent days in an effort by Nahhas to draft a law that will be accepted, and not turned down, by the Shura Council.

Ad-Diyar

Pay hike [proposal] by Nahhas sways once more

The year 2012 has come with persisting concerns: public appointments, the state budget, the presence of Al-Qaeda, the issue of the Syrian-Lebanese border, attacks against UNIFIL, the situation in Ain al-Hilweh, the economic crisis and the issue of pay hikes which goes to Cabinet for the fourth time Wednesday following reports that the Shura Council has rejected Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ proposal.

Nahhas’ proposal awaits the Shura Council's verdict.

An-Nahar

Shura Council decision Tuesday after meeting Nahhas

Matter of appointments resurfaces, Berri speaks of oil achievement

The issue of wage hikes will be at the forefront of a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, the first to be held in 2012 even though political bickering over Arsal heated up over the New Year holiday.

An-Nahar has learned that Prime Minister Najib Mikati will discuss Tuesday with the Chairman of the Civil Services Board Khaled Qabbani the issue of appointments and vacancies of different posts.

As for the wage increase, ministerial sources close to Mikati said the Shura Council verdict regarding Cabinet’s recent decision is likely to come out Tuesday.

Other sources also told An-Nahar that a decisive meeting will be held before noon Tuesday between head of the Shura Council Judge Shukri Sader and Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas prior to the advisory body’s verdict, expected in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri said Cabinet would sign Wednesday a decree to implement the oil exploration law, describing the move as the “beginning of government’s achievements in the New Year.”