BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s ruling coalition demanded yesterday that talks to end the country’s 18-month-old political crisis tackle the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons — a demand the militant group rejected.
Hezbollah insisted the group’s arsenal remain untouched, saying it was necessary for fighting Israel, Lebanese media reported on the first day of the negotiations in Qatar on forming a unity government and electing a president after the country’s worst violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.
The two sides flew to Qatar’s capital, Doha, following a deal mediated by the Arab League that brought an end to a week of violence. The deal included an agreement that the talks would lead to the election of compromise candidate Army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.
The weapons demand was seen as an attempt by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s side to guarantee Hezbollah won’t take to the streets again as it did when it overran Sunni Muslim west Beirut in clashes that left 67 people dead and more than 200 wounded.
“This is a defining moment,” President Bush said after a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Egypt. “It is a moment that requires us to stand strongly with the Siniora government and to support the Siniora government.”
Lebanon’s official National News Agency said the Qatar talks became tense when parliamentary Majority Leader Saad Hariri, a Sunni, and hard-line pro-government Christian politician Samir Geagea brought up the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons.
Mr. Geagea had warned Hezbollah that the Doha talks would fail if the Shi’ite Islamist group sticks to keeping its weapons.
Lawmaker Mohammed Raad, who heads Hezbollah’s delegation in Qatar, defended the group keeping its arsenal, saying the weapons were meant to fight Israel and “must not be touched,” according the private LBC Television.
Lebanon has had no president since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud’s term ended in November.
The violence earlier this month was triggered by government measures to rein in Hezbollah. The violence eventually forced the government to revoke the measures, giving Hezbollah an upper hand in its standoff with the government.
Qatari host Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani asked the two sides to stick for now to discussions on a national-unity government.
Mr. Siniora struck an upbeat note, saying yesterday’s session showed “all parties are eager to reach an understanding that will lead to the beginning of a solution to this crisis,” the private Voice of Lebanon Radio reported.
The talks in Qatar are the first time top leaders from the Lebanese sides came face to face in the crisis. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who is in hiding fearing assassination by Israel, did not attend.
• Associated Press writer Zeina Karam contributed to this report from Beirut.
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