Al-Bayan (United Arab Emirates): Olmert: US has surprise for Syria if it negotiates with Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed yesterday that US President George Bush never opposed negotiations between Syria and Israel.

He said that Damascus' road to Washington passes through Israel, indicating there would be a surprise for Syria in its relations with America if Damascus negotiates with Israel.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Hezbollah weapons go from Beirut to mountains – The war in Lebanon entered its most dangerous stage when Hezbollah aimed its weapons at the mountains, particularly the strongholds of the [Druze] Progressive Socialist Party, after having done the same in Beirut and the northern Bekaa.

Fierce clashes continued throughout the day in the mountains, while Beirut remained calm, although its roads were blocked and its airport closed.

As-Safir (Lebanon): Government retracts its decisions after 100 killed amid massive destruction – Almost 100 people have been killed and hundreds of others injured since the government issued the two decisions, as fighting spread from Beirut toward the Chouf Mountains.

By the time an Arab ministerial committee prepares to come to Beirut, the USS COLE warship would be positioned in the regional waters off the shores of Lebanon, and the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is expected today to hand over to the army the two decisions which the army will annul.

Tishreen (Syria): Labor Union condemns attacks on Syrian workers in Lebanon – The Syrian labor unions federation strongly condemned the attacks that have killed a number of Syrians in Lebanon and urged the Lebanese authorities to investigate "this new crime against our workers and to punish the perpetrators." Some Syrian workers have been fired at in the past two days "without any regard for humanity or Arab and international laws and charters."

Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda (West Bank): Gaza without electricity for second day, all bakeries stop – The bakery owners' society said all bakeries in the Gaza Strip have stopped working since yesterday after running out of gas and fuel, as electricity was cut off after the only power plant in the strip came to a halt for a second straight day.

Meanwhile, Oxfam urged Israel to immediately send in the necessary fuel to prevent Gaza from plunging into a serious medical crisis.