Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese and pan-Arab newspapers Saturday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat

Qatar's prime minister: If the killings continue, having observers makes no difference

Explosion in the heart of Damascus and mass demonstrations Friday

Syrian opposition accuses Assad regime of being behind Damascus blasts, warns of wave of car explosions

Friday saw one of the bloodiest days since the protest movement began, with most of the deaths occurring as a result of a suicide bombing in the neighborhood of Midan in the heart of Damascus, the second attack of its kind in two weeks. Arab League secretary-general Nabil Elaraby asked Khaled Mashaal, the head of the Hamas office in Damascus, to appeal to the Syrian government to stop the violence in the country. Elaraby urged the Syrian government to work with honesty, transparency and legitimacy.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani told Al-Jazeera that it is not Mashaal’s job to mediate between the Arab League and the Syrian government. He added that if the killings continue, there is no point in having observers.

This statement followed the explosion in Damascus, in which the Syrian government reported that 26 were killed and 63 were wounded. The opposition immediately accused the government of being behind the bombing, and demanded an investigation into the incident.

Al-Hayat

Lebanon fearful “Syria crisis might be imported and fears of consequences should it be internationalized”

Members in both the majority and opposition are concerned about the consequences of the crisis in Syria for the internal situation despite assurances from international sides that the crisis will not be imported, which would affect general stability as well as relations between local parties who each have their own wager: One behaves like the Syrian regime will overcome and come out of its crisis stronger while the other considers the fall of the regime to be a foregone conclusion. This requires that the Lebanese political situation be put back in order.

Political sources closely monitoring the Syria crisis said that even though the two sides are wagering on different things, both the opposition and majority are anxious of the effects of the crisis in Syria, particularly given that it is not more likely to be internationalized.

The same sources said whether the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati remained or left was of secondary importance compared to the extent of the growing fears of the consequences of the Syria crisis on the internal situation.

The sources said this description of the government did not mean that the opposition as represented through the March 14 coalition had taken a decision to escalate its campaign against the Cabinet.

The sources said Mikati and Jumblatt’s ministers had managed to clip the wings of the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun.

Al-Mustaqbal

Hariri says Saudi Arabia will remain country of safety because of its wise [policies] and kind people

The Armenian Orthodox Christmas came following a weak of monotony that was not breached except by the sound of the explosion in Midan Square in Damascus that many in Beirut denounced.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri denied rumors he had been allegedly murdered in Riyadh, saying the reports were fabricated as “part of a psychological war against us,” adding that Saudi Arabia would remain a place of safety due to its wise leadership and its kind people.

Commenting on the bombing in Damascus, Hariri condemned “all terrorist bombings,” and said the “Syrian revolution knows the real aim behind this explosion and has determined its culprits.”

“What is noticeable about the explosion in Damascus is its timing – 24 hours before the Arab [League] committee meeting – as well as it location – Midan Square, which is a central spot of the popular movements in Damascus.”

Hariri also said “President Bashar Assad’s government in Lebanon cannot decide to send observers to monitor the regime that it appointed in Damascus.”