Region | Lebanon
Qatar strives to forge deal between Lebanese rivals
Lebanese delegates due to respond to Qatari prime minister's proposals aimed at ending country's crisis.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:16 May 19, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Assistant to Arab League Secretary General Hesham Youssef briefs journalists on rival Lebanese leaders meetings in Qatar on Monday.
Doha: Lebanon's rival political camps were due to respond on Monday to proposals from Qatar's prime minister aimed at ending the country's political crisis.
Qatari Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani made detailed proposals on Sunday on the possible shape of a new government, and a draft election law.
An agreement would pave the way for parliament to elect army commander General Michel Suleiman as president.
No timetable was set for the Qatar talks but delegates said the clock was ticking as the talks went on for a fourth day.
"I cannot tell you when we will finish," said Arab League chief Amr Moussa. "We are half way there."
Delegates did not say whether the Shaikh Hamad also made any specific suggestion over a coalition demand for clear guarantees that Hezbollah would drop its weapons.
More than 80 people were killed in deadly clashes between pro-government gunmen and the militant Hezbollah group and its allies in Lebanon this month.
US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said the Doha talks should aim to curb Hezbollah and bolster the government.
"This can lead to an end to the political stalemate, but only if it does not reward Hezbollah, and if it supports the elected government..." he said, adding that the talks were an opportunity to hold Hezbollah to account and "clip its wings."
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