Arab Delegation: Dialogue Starts Friday in Doha

Arab Delegation: Dialogue Starts Friday in Doha

Hanan Awarekeh Readers Number : 126

15/05/2008 Arab mediators unveiled a deal on Thursday to defuse the ongoing political crisis in between rival political factions that drove deeply divided Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war. Under the agreement announced after two days of talks, the factions agreed to relaunch a dialogue to end a prolonged political crisis that boiled over into six days of deadly battles last week between the national opposition and the ruling bloc’s militias after the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora issued two decisions concerning the resistance's communications network and the head of the airport security. On Thursday night, Saniora’s unconstitutional government had no choice but to revoke the two sedition decisions. Arab leaders have been scrambling to end the standoff between the two parts and under a six-point plan announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, the rivals agreed to go to Qatar on Friday to begin a national dialogue to try to elect a president and form a national unity government. They also agreed to refrain from using weapons to further their political agenda, to refrain from using language that could incite violence and to return to the situation before deadly clashes erupted last week. With the announcement of the deal, opposition supporters and began removing roadblocks on the highway leading to Beirut's international airport, paving the way for commercial flights to resume. A Middle East Airlines plane was set to arrive at the airport in the early evening, the first commercial flight since traffic was suspended a week ago, forcing people who wanted to live to find alternative routes by road and sea. The national opposition also announced that it has ended its civic disobedience. The Lebanese parliament is scheduled to convene on June 10 for what will be its 20th attempt to elect a president to replace Emile Lahoud who stepped down at the end of his term of office in November. The ruling bloc and the national opposition have agreed with an Arab League initiative that calls for the election of army Chief Michel Sleiman as head of state. But they remain at odds over the details of a proposed government of national unity and a new law for parliamentary polls due next year.