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Lebanese factions at Qatar talks Lebanese factions at Qatar talks
(about 17 hours later)
Lebanon's rival political leaders are holding talks in Qatar aimed at ending the sectarian conflict which left at least 65 people dead in recent days. Lebanon's rival political leaders are continuing talks in Qatar aimed at ending the sectarian feud which left at least 65 people dead in recent days.
They are set to discuss power-sharing in a proposed national unity government and reform of election laws. The talks became heated when members of the pro-Western government raised the issue of arms held by the opposition Hezbollah movement, reports say.
The discussions in Doha follow an agreement on Wednesday, mediated by the Arab League, to end the fighting. The two sides are also set to discuss power-sharing in a proposed national unity cabinet and electoral reforms.
It came after the Western-backed government withdrew two key measures to curb the opposition Hezbollah movement. The talks follow a deal, mediated by the Arab League, to end the fighting.
It came after the government withdrew two key measures to curb Hezbollah.
In return, the opposition agreed to end its sit-in protests in Beirut, remove street blockades and allow the capital's international airport to re-open fully.In return, the opposition agreed to end its sit-in protests in Beirut, remove street blockades and allow the capital's international airport to re-open fully.
Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had described the decision to dismantle its private telecommunications network and sack the airport's security chief with alleged links to the group as a "declaration of war" by the government.Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had described the decision to dismantle its private telecommunications network and sack the airport's security chief with alleged links to the group as a "declaration of war" by the government.
Thorny problemsThorny problems
The Doha talks are aimed at ending the political dispute which has seen the worst sectarian violence since the civil warThe Doha talks are aimed at ending the political dispute which has seen the worst sectarian violence since the civil war
The impression, thank God, from the session, shows the desire among all the factions to reach an understanding... that will bring us to the beginning of a solution to this crisis Fouad SinioraLebanese Prime Minister Hezbollah in dangerous territoryThe Lebanese crisis explainedThe impression, thank God, from the session, shows the desire among all the factions to reach an understanding... that will bring us to the beginning of a solution to this crisis Fouad SinioraLebanese Prime Minister Hezbollah in dangerous territoryThe Lebanese crisis explained
The first session of talks ended shortly before lunchtime and is due to reconvene again this afternoon. At the first session, delegates said they had agreed to form a four-member committee to decide on a framework for reform of the parliamentary election law.
Delegates said they had agreed to form a four-member committee to decide on a framework for reform of the parliamentary election law and, once that is achieved to move onto the exact composition and balance of power within a proposed national unity government. They said that - once that was achieved - they would move onto the exact composition and balance of power within a proposed national unity government.
"The impression, thank God, from the session, shows the desire among all the factions to reach an understanding... that will bring us to the beginning of a solution to this crisis," Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told the Voice of Lebanon."The impression, thank God, from the session, shows the desire among all the factions to reach an understanding... that will bring us to the beginning of a solution to this crisis," Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told the Voice of Lebanon.
"We have to have faith and trust that we will do the impossible until we find solutions to this difficult stage that Lebanon has faced the past two weeks.""We have to have faith and trust that we will do the impossible until we find solutions to this difficult stage that Lebanon has faced the past two weeks."
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says both issues are extremely thorny problems, which have defied many previous attempts at mediation. The discussion later became "heated" when members of the government coalition raised the issue of Hezbollah's weapons, according to Lebanese media reports.
Hezbollah rejected the demand, saying its arsenal would not be touched, reports say. However, Qatari mediators later persuaded delegates to defer further talks on the matter.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the issues are extremely thorny problems, which have defied many previous attempts at mediation.
But this time the leaders are expected to stay in Qatar for as long as it takes to reach agreement, our correspondent says.But this time the leaders are expected to stay in Qatar for as long as it takes to reach agreement, our correspondent says.
Assuming they do, they will return to Beirut and elect the consensus candidate for president, army commander Gen Michel Suleiman.Assuming they do, they will return to Beirut and elect the consensus candidate for president, army commander Gen Michel Suleiman.
Lebanon has also not had a president since November, when Emile Lahoud stepped down despite parliament failing to elect a successor.Lebanon has also not had a president since November, when Emile Lahoud stepped down despite parliament failing to elect a successor.
Hezbollah would also then dismantle the tented encampment with which it has been besieging the government building in central Beirut for the past 18 months, and political life would return to some semblance of normality, our correspondent adds.Hezbollah would also then dismantle the tented encampment with which it has been besieging the government building in central Beirut for the past 18 months, and political life would return to some semblance of normality, our correspondent adds.