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

An-Nahar

Will labor minister resign or is it just a rumor … that is the issue

Just as Lebanese were getting the chance to learn that the issue of wage hikes had been finalized last Wednesday in Cabinet, Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas said Friday the decree governing the wages was separate from the one regarding transportation fees and therefore he had signed the former but not the latter. This has sparked a crisis that carries the possibility of Nahhas’ resignation.

Nahhas vowed not to sign the transportation fee decree regardless of the consequences and said the most important thing for him was that the Constitution be respected and not the Cabinet’s decision.

While the decision to raise wages has not materialized, traders who bought fuel oil Thursday night will be making thousands of dollars given that the subsidy on the fuel expires on that day. Residents, who found it difficult to find the fuel oil in the past month, had to turn to the black market.

As-Safir

Nahhas says to ensure labor’s needs

Issue of wages passed, issue of transportation fees on hold

This week ends with a freeze on political activity and lack of discussion over principle issues but next week will see a series of Cabinet meetings as well as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s initiative to reconcile lawmakers within the parliamentary finance committee when March 14 MPs are in a few weeks time expected to end their boycott of the committee in protest over comments by its chairman, MP Ibrahim Kanaan.

While sources close to President Michel Sleiman said that the president was in the process of reviving the issue of national dialogue, it is worth noting that during Berri’s statement to a delegation of editors, the speaker said this stage was dedicated to finalizing appointments, whether administrative or diplomatic. What is more important to Berri is to appoint the committee tasked with the issue of oil exploration.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas signed the wage hike decree Friday and it is safe to say that the decree has almost been finalized and awaits the signature of the prime minister, the president and finance minister. And there is no need to send the decree to the Shura Council for revision.

As expected, the decree for the transportation fees is still on hold with the labor minister refusing to sign the decree and saying it would be a violation of the law to do so.

Al-Liwaa

Suleimani embarrasses Hezbollah and ties Lebanon and its south with the Strait of Hormuz

Statements by Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani of Iran’s elite Al-Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards Corp sent shockwaves across Lebanon’s political spectrum when he said that south Lebanon is subjugated to Tehran’s will and ideas just like Iraq is.

What was more dangerous in the Iranian official’s statement is when he noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran could organize a movement that might result in the establishment of Islamic-based governments in these countries in a bid to fight arrogance (United States).

These statements come during an open confrontation between the United States as well as the West with Iran over its nuclear capabilities and increasing sanctions on Tehran.

What sparked fears in the Lebanese was French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s statements that a catastrophe and chaos would dominate the Middle East and the world if Iran was attacked.

Al-Joumhouria

Suleimani says south under Tehran's command, Berri calls for positive neutrality

A senior official at the U.S. State Department has confirmed that Washington is mulling the possibility of closing its embassy in Damascus and withdrawing its ambassador “given to the deteriorating security situation in this country,” adding that the decision had yet to be taken. The political scene was taken up Friday by three positions that each made an impact in terms of their timing and implication.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy reiterated “France’s support to Lebanon and the defense of its independence and sovereignty,” stressing that it “would not allow Lebanon to come to harm either internally or externally,” and warned that “anyone attacking a French soldier would have to bear the consequences.”

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said that the “politics of disassociating [Lebanon] that stems from wise policy decision is the path that should be taken at this stage, and why don’t we take this positive, neutral stance that benefits us all after we used to in the past differ on the issue of neutrality?”

A member of Iran’s Elite Al-Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards Corps Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani said his country was present in the south of Lebanon and Iraq and that these “two countries yield in some shape or form to the will and ideology of Tehran.” He said “Iran has the ability to establish any movement that will lead to the formation of Islamic governments to eradicate arrogance [United States].”

Diplomatic sources, commenting on the remarks, said Sarkozy’s position reflected international and regional positions that warn against targeting Lebanon’s stability in order to render it neutral from the Syria crisis and its repercussions.