Deals and talks renew hope

Dubai: It was a day of good news in the region on Wednesday, a day that raised hopes of easing tension in Lebanon, Palestine and Syria.

Following marathon talks that went into the early hours of on Wednesday, rival Lebanese leaders finally clinched a deal, ending an 18-month political deadlock that exploded into deadly sectarian fighting this month and drove the country to the brink of civil war.

Hours later, Syria and Israel confirmed the beginning of indirect peace negotiations that could see the Jewish state withdrawing from the occupied Golan Heights. And capping a day of breakthroughs, Egypt announced that the Palestinian movement Hamas and Israel have agreed in principle to a truce that would help put the peace process back on track.

The Lebanon agreement, called the Doha Declaration, was announced after days of tense talks in the Qatari capital. It paves the way for the election of a new president, army chief General Michel Sulaiman, as early as Sunday, the formation of a unity government in which the Hezbollah-led opposition will have the power of veto, and the endorsement of a new election law.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora described the deal as a "great achievement in the history of Lebanon" but analysts said it appeared Hezbollah had emerged the main winner.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday made a telephone call to Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, congratulating him on the successful mediation to resolve the Lebanese crisis. Earlier, Shaikh Khalifa received a telephone call from Siniora, who briefed him on the Doha Declaration. Yesterday's accord was also hailed by regional states including Syria and Iran, which support the opposition and Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which back the ruling coalition.

Immediately after the announcement, the opposition began dismantling its 18-month protest camp outside the Government House.

Also yesterday, Syria and Israel revealed they had launched indirect peace talks mediated by Turkish officials in Istanbul, the first confirmation of such negotiations in eight years. The two governments said "an open dialogue" had begun with the aim of a comprehensive peace.

Egyptian state media meanwhile announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a truce in and around Gaza, where yearlong Israeli attacks have killed dozens of Palestinians.