Lebanese peace talks close to breaking down in Qatar

By KATARINA KRATOVAC | The Associated Press

May 20, 2008

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Talks between rival Lebanese factions teetered near collapse Monday, as Arab League mediators in Qatar pressed the parties to resolve the political strife that erupted into bloody violence and pushed the country to the brink of a new civil war.

The Doha-hosted talks were called after Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war, with clashes between pro-government groups and the Hezbollah-led opposition raging in the streets of Muslim west Beirut, the central mountains and the north. At least 67 people died.

Under an Arab League-negotiated deal that ended the fighting last week, the two sides are meeting in Qatar trying to negotiate a national unity government and a new parliamentary election law meant to ease 18 months of political deadlock and prevent more violence.

The Doha talks have repeatedly hit snags since they began Saturday, and neither camp appeared willing to make concessions after three days of discussions at a hotel.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa told reporters that each side had been "talking about something else" and that mediators were "trying to get them closer to each other."

By late Monday, an expected news conference by the Arab mediators was postponed, and officials close to the talks said the delay was to give more time for negotiations. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

"The hope is no longer very strong," a Christian pro-government politician, Samir Geagea, told Lebanon's private LBC television. "But we are still giving it every chance we have."