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Qatar pushes Lebanese unity plan Lebanese unity plan 'in trouble'
(about 3 hours later)
The hosts of Lebanese crisis talks in Qatar are waiting for rival factions to respond to proposals to set up a unity cabinet to heal rifts. Talks aimed at resolving the Lebanese political crisis appear to have run into further trouble, reports say.
The plan was outlined by Qatar's emir and prime minister in separate talks continuing into the early hours. Government and opposition leaders have been in Qatar for several days amid heightened tension following violence in Lebanon earlier this month.
The conflict has left 65 people dead when opposition militias temporarily seized swathes of west Beirut, ousting armed supporters of the government. The two sides were considering a plan proposed by Qatar to form a unity cabinet and postpone talks on a controversial draft election law.
Tension mounted at the talks on Sunday with a dispute over Hezbollah arms. But an opposition statement said both issues must be resolved together.
Members of the western-backed government coalition demanded the disarming of the opposition Shia militant and political movement, according to Lebanese media reports. The electoral law could prove decisive in determining results of parliamentary polls due next year.
Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah rejected the demand, saying its arsenal was needed for resistance against Israel and would not be touched, reports say. The conflict has left 65 people dead when opposition militias led by the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement temporarily seized swathes of west Beirut, ousting armed supporters of the western-backed government.
However, Qatari mediators later persuaded delegates to defer further talks on the matter. Correspondents say disagreement over Hezbollah's weapons had already threatened to torpedo the talks when members of the parliamentary majority bloc insisted on debating the issue in the Qatari capital Doha.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the leaders are expected to stay in Qatar for as long as it takes to reach an agreement.
Cabinet make-upCabinet make-up
Qatar leaders suggested postponing a decision over disputed election legislation and moving directly to a parliamentary vote to name army chief Michel Suleiman as president. Qatari leaders suggested postponing a decision over disputed election legislation and moving directly to a parliamentary vote to name army chief Michel Suleiman as president.
They also proposed forming a unity government of 30 ministers, with 13 ministers from the parliamentary majority, 10 from the Hezbollah-led opposition and seven to be chosen by the elected president.They also proposed forming a unity government of 30 ministers, with 13 ministers from the parliamentary majority, 10 from the Hezbollah-led opposition and seven to be chosen by the elected president.
Rival factions have agreed on electing Mr Suleiman as a president to succeed the pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, whose term ended in November. Rival factions are agreed on electing Mr Suleiman as a president to succeed the pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, whose term ended in November.
But they have fallen out over power-sharing in a unity government.But they have fallen out over power-sharing in a unity government.
The opposition has insisted on holding more than a third of the cabinet portfolios, which would give it power of veto over government decisions.The opposition has insisted on holding more than a third of the cabinet portfolios, which would give it power of veto over government decisions.
Lebanon has also not had a president since November, when Mr Lahoud stepped down despite parliament failing to elect a successor. Lebanon has not had a president since November, when Mr Lahoud stepped down despite parliament failing to elect a successor.
Clashes broke out earlier in May after the government said it wanted to shut down a private phone system operated by Hezbollah and moved the head of security at Beirut international airport for an alleged Hezbollah bias.Clashes broke out earlier in May after the government said it wanted to shut down a private phone system operated by Hezbollah and moved the head of security at Beirut international airport for an alleged Hezbollah bias.