Arab mediators expected to seal Lebanon deal

An Arab League delegation is expected to conclude a deal to end fighting in Lebanon on Thursday. It comes after the U.S.-backed government backed down in its conflict with Hezbollah. Arab mediators expected to seal Lebanon deal The delegation is expected to announce talks in Qatar to resolve a broader political conflict that has paralyzed Lebanon for 18 months and is regarded as a proxy struggle between the United States and Iran, which supports the Hezbollah movement. "We want to return to a settlement which leads, in the end, to there being neither victor nor vanquished," Sheikh Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's deputy leader, said. He was speaking to reporters after meeting the delegation, which was due to hold a news conference at 3.30 p.m. (1230 GMT). Washington's allies in Lebanon's ruling coalition were dealt a severe blow by Hezbollah in fighting that was triggered by government decisions last week. The Shi'ite movement said these decisions were a declaration of war. The government cancelled the measures on Wednesday, meeting one of Hezbollah's demands and easing tension in Beirut. Hezbollah briefly controlled the Muslim areas of the capital during the conflict that triggered fighting with Sunni and Druze government supporters. At least 81 people were killed in the worst fighting among Lebanese since the 1975-90 civil war. Hezbollah, which leads an alliance of opposition factions, said the cancellation of the decisions was a "natural way out" of the crisis. Hezbollah had demanded the ruling coalition agree to talks as a condition for ending a civil disobedience campaign which has included roadblocks that have paralyzed the capital. The roadblocks, including barricades on the airport road, are expected to be lifted on Thursday after the Arab League delegation, headed by the prime minister of Qatar, announces agreement on the talks to be held in Doha. Regional struggle The talks will tackle how to share power in the cabinet and the details of a new parliamentary election law. It is not clear when they will begin. The row has paralyzed much of government and left Lebanon with no president since November. The dispute is regarded as a regional struggle for influence between Syria, which backs the opposition, and Saudi Arabia, which supports the ruling coalition. Any deal would result in army commander General Michel Suleiman being elected president. The United States has blamed the trouble in Lebanon on Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political movement with a guerrilla army. Iran blames the United States for the violence which erupted after government action to outlaw a communications network vital to Hezbollah's military and security wings. The ruling coalition accuses the opposition of trying to restore Syrian control of Lebanon and secure a stronger foothold for Iran in the country. Syria dominated Lebanon until 2005, when the assassination of statesman Rafik al-Hariri triggered international pressure that forced it to end its military presence after nearly three decades and plunged Lebanon into crisis.

Arab mediators expected to seal Lebanon deal

The delegation is expected to announce talks in Qatar to resolve a broader political conflict that has paralyzed Lebanon for 18 months and is regarded as a proxy struggle between the United States and Iran, which supports the Hezbollah movement.

"We want to return to a settlement which leads, in the end, to there being neither victor nor vanquished," Sheikh Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's deputy leader, said.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting the delegation, which was due to hold a news conference at 3.30 p.m. (1230 GMT).

Washington's allies in Lebanon's ruling coalition were dealt a severe blow by Hezbollah in fighting that was triggered by government decisions last week. The Shi'ite movement said these decisions were a declaration of war.

The government cancelled the measures on Wednesday, meeting one of Hezbollah's demands and easing tension in Beirut.

Hezbollah briefly controlled the Muslim areas of the capital during the conflict that triggered fighting with Sunni and Druze government supporters.

At least 81 people were killed in the worst fighting among Lebanese since the 1975-90 civil war.

Hezbollah, which leads an alliance of opposition factions, said the cancellation of the decisions was a "natural way out" of the crisis.

Hezbollah had demanded the ruling coalition agree to talks as a condition for ending a civil disobedience campaign which has included roadblocks that have paralyzed the capital.

The roadblocks, including barricades on the airport road, are expected to be lifted on Thursday after the Arab League delegation, headed by the prime minister of Qatar, announces agreement on the talks to be held in Doha.

Regional struggle

The talks will tackle how to share power in the cabinet and the details of a new parliamentary election law. It is not clear when they will begin. The row has paralyzed much of government and left Lebanon with no president since November.

The dispute is regarded as a regional struggle for influence between Syria, which backs the opposition, and Saudi Arabia, which supports the ruling coalition. Any deal would result in army commander General Michel Suleiman being elected president.

The United States has blamed the trouble in Lebanon on Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political movement with a guerrilla army.

Iran blames the United States for the violence which erupted after government action to outlaw a communications network vital to Hezbollah's military and security wings.

The ruling coalition accuses the opposition of trying to restore Syrian control of Lebanon and secure a stronger foothold for Iran in the country.

Syria dominated Lebanon until 2005, when the assassination of statesman Rafik al-Hariri triggered international pressure that forced it to end its military presence after nearly three decades and plunged Lebanon into crisis.