Arab mediators set deadline for Lebanese leaders

Doha: Arab mediators have given rival Lebanese leaders until Wednesday to agree on one of two proposals aimed at ending their country's political crisis.

Lebanese leaders meeting in Qatar had yet to respond to the Arab proposals and one side had asked for more time, said Ahmad Abdullah Al Mahmood, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

"The committee approved [that reques] giving until tomorrow," he said, reading a statement. He said details of the proposals would not be disclosed.

Lebanese diplomats held talks in Doha on Tuesday, the fifth day of Qatari-led talks between the government and Hezbollah-led opposition.

Qatari Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani made proposals on Sunday on power-sharing in a new government and the rivals had been expected to agree on a compromise over a new election law.

An agreement would pave the way for parliament to elect army commander General Michel Suleiman as president, a post that has been vacant since November.