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

Al-Joumhouria

Ban and Davutoglu in Beirut Friday … Connelly cautions [Lebanon] to avoid instability

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu are due in Lebanon Friday to discuss the extent of implications of the Syria crisis on the political and security situation in Lebanon and the need to "disassociate" Lebanon from the Syrian revolt, which echoes a call made by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman who highlighted – during talks with Lebanese officials in December – the need to neutralize Lebanon from the Syrian crisis.

On the eve of his visit to Lebanon, Davutoglu told Al-Joumhouria that “the Syrian regime had a chance to take advantage of the right lessons of the revolutions that broke out in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, where it had time to observe the positive and negative implications before the revolution reached Syria.”

“But, unfortunately, it [the Syrian regime] did not benefit from all that and instead associated with the illusion of autocracy,” Davutoglu said.

Al-Mustaqbal

Beirut MPs decide to hold talks with March 8 on arms-free capital

Wide-ranging warnings of spillover in Lebanon of Syria unrest

All eyes remained turned on Syria as President Bashar Assad showed off his muscles yet again Wednesday when he ventured out of his palace to "Umayyad Square" in a rare appearance to stand with his supporters "against the conspiracy.”

Some Assad agents in Lebanon also showed off their muscles by firing celebratory shots, particularly in several areas of Beirut and north Lebanon.

An Inerga-type rocket propelled grenade that fell between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabaneh in Tripoli, north Lebanon, Wednesday also raised the level of concern of instability in Lebanon linked to the crisis in Syria.

Meanwhile, Beirut MPs said following an assessment meeting Wednesday that they have decided to hold talks with the March 8 coalition – Hezbollah, Amal Movement, Tashnag, and the Free Patriotic Movement – as well as the Progressive Socialist Party as part of efforts to reach a long-standing demand for an arms-free capital.

As-Safir

PSP-Hezbollah dinner to manage dispute

Communication channels were reactivated Wednesday between Hezbollah and the Progressive Socialist Party as Cabinet Minister Ghazi Aridi hosted dinner for Hezbollah officials Mohammed Fneish, Hussein Hajj Hassan, MP Hassan Fadlallah and Wafik Safa.

Cabinet Minister Wael Abu Faour and MP Akram Shehayeb, both PSP, also attended the dinner.

As-Safir has learned that the attendees stressed the need to strengthen internal stability, stimulate the work of the government, promote dialogue and protect Lebanon from the implications of regional unrest. The two sides, however, still differed on Syria.

Abu Faour told As-Safir that the dinner gathering was a continuation of a previous meeting between the two parties “aimed at strengthening and developing the bilateral relationship.”

Sources close to Hezbollah also told As-Safir that the meeting was “cordial, positive, frank and clear.”

They said the two sides held in-depth talks on various issues at the domestic and regional levels.