BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — The Hezbollah-led opposition and US-backed government agreed Thursday to hold political talks that will lead to the election of

BEIRUT - Arab foreign ministers announced on Thursday they had brokered a deal to end Lebanon's 18-month-old political crisis which escalated into deadly sectarian clashes last week.
Following are the main points of the agreement unveiled by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani:
should be a relaunch of a national dialogue to restore confidence among the rival parties leading to the formation of a national unity government and a new electoral law.

By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent - Analysis BEIRUT (Reuters) - Any deal among rival Lebanese leaders invited to Qatar for talks to defuse Lebanon's crisis will reflect the new power equation imposed by Hezbollah's military punishment of its U.S.-backed foes last week.
High-level Arab League mediators announced in Beirut on Thursday that pro-government factions and the Hezbollah-led opposition had agreed to meet in Doha on Friday to seek to break their country's political deadlock.
ecting a president, forming a national unity government and revising the electoral law -- issues at the heart of an 18-month-old political stalemate.

Arab League mediators in Lebanon say they have clinched an agreement to end the recent fighting, which raised fears of a second civil war breaking out.
They said the opposition would end sit-in protests in Beirut and allow the city's airport and port to reopen.
Lebanese army commander Gen Michel Suleiman as president, but must resolve the other issues first.

Beirut - Arab League mediators brokered a deal Thursday to end Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the civil war, announcing that the country's rivals are to meet in Doha on Friday.
Lebanese Christian leader of Lebanese forces Samir Geagea sits in the corner (5th L) during his meeting with The Arabic team, headed by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, in Mearab east of Beirut 14 May 2008. EPA/ALDO AYOUB
minister and foreign minister said 'neither Shiites, nor Sunnis nor Christians can control Lebanon.'

By VOA News Arab mediators are expected Thursday to finalize a deal aimed at defusing a crisis that led to nearly a week of deadly sectarian violence in

BERUIT, Lebanon, May 15 (UPI) - Lebanon has rescinded two decisions that had angered Hezbollah, apparently avoiding another civil war, government sources said Thursday.
The Shiite Muslim group's followers celebrated what they saw as a defeat for the U.S.-backed government in its latest confrontation with Hezbollah and its allies, The Washington Post said Thursday.
exodus of hundreds of thousands of refugees. In the besieged Gaza, Palestinians marched to the Erez crossing with Israel to protest a crippling months-old blockade of the territory. (UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad)

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) - Lebanon's Cabinet on Wednesday reversed two decisions that triggered violence among anti-government Hezbollah militants last week: the firing of the chief of security at Beirut's airport and the order that Hezbollah's telecommunications system come under state control, according to a statement released by Cabinet members.
itary official said Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the acting commander of U.S. Central Command, spent Wednesday in Beirut to discuss the crisis with officials there and assure them that U.S. military aid will continue.
om quake rubble after...

A Lebanese woman and her daughter walk past Lebanese soldiers deploying in a tense neighborhood of Beirut. Six days of fighting between supporters of the ruling bloc and the Hezbollah militia left at least 58 dead and 198 injured.
Lebanon reaches out for international help
The offensive was sparked when the government decided to fire the pro-Hezbollah head of security at the country's international airport and shut down the group's secure phone network.