Lebanese parties end crisis and chose president
Lebanon, Politics, 5/21/2008

Representatives of Lebanese political parties reached a deal today to end the protracted political crisis. The crisis left at least 65 people dead in recent days.

Delegates from various Lebanese parties gathered in the Qatari capital since last Friday to reach an agreement on putting an end to 18 months of political conflict.

The discussions in Doha follow an agreement on last Wednesday, mediated by the Arab League, to end the fighting. It came after the government withdrew two key measures to curb the opposition resistance movement. In return, the opposition agreed to end its sit-in protests in Beirut, remove street blockades and allow the capital's international airport to re-open fully.

Hizbullah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had described the decision to dismantle its private telecommunications network and sack the airport's security chief as a "declaration of war" by the government.

The negotiating delegates today in Qatar agreed on the election of Michel Suleiman as the new president of Lebanon, formation of a national reconciliation government in that country and enforcement of the country's electoral law for parliamentary polls which was approved in 1960.

Reports coming from the site of the talks said members of a six-member committee formed to iron out differences over Lebanon's electoral law which was approved in 1960, suggested amendments to the constituency of Lebanese capital of Beirut.

The committee made the decision ahead of a Wednesday deadline for the Doha talks to wrap up.

The delegates are now working on the final statement which is expected to be presented to the closing session of Doha talks due to be held later on Wednesday.

Amir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, attended the talks in Doha and held separate talks for several times with the Lebanese delegates.

Meantime, the Lebanese Daily Star reported that "the ruling majority will have 16 seats in the cabinet and be able to choose the prime minister. The opposition will have 11 ministerial posts while another three will be nominated by the elected president."

Previous Stories:
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