Feuding Lebanese factions agree to begin dialogue

The Hezbollah-led opposition and U.S.-backed government reached a deal Thursday to end Lebanon's worst violence since the 1975-90 civil war, now that the Cabinet has reversed measures aimed at reining in the Iranian-backed militants.

The feuding factions agreed to hold political talks in Qatar on Friday that will lead to the election of Lebanon's army chief, Gen. Michel Suleiman, as a compromise president, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, who headed an Arab League team that mediated the agreement.

Immediately after the deal was announced, the opposition cleared a series of roadblocks along Beirut's airport road that had stopped flights for a week. Shortly afterward, two planes from the Lebanese national carrier, Middle East Airlines, landed.

"The parties pledge not to use weapons or violence again with the aim of scoring political gains," Hamad told journalists in a conference hall. "Both parties are willing to open a new chapter."

Hamad made the announcement with representatives of all Lebanese factions present, an indication the deal had the blessing of both sides.

But tensions still simmered after last week's street battles. A government supporter was shot dead and another wounded late Thursday after an argument with Hezbollah backers in the eastern Bekaa Valley, a security official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Under the deal, unauthorized gunmen must leave Lebanon's streets and the army will impose security across the country, Hamad said. Political leaders also pledged to refrain from language that could stir up political or religious turmoil.

The deal also calls for the opposing camps to discuss the possibility of forming a national unity government, he said.

The breakthrough came after a marathon Cabinet session Wednesday night during which the Western-backed government rescinded measures against Hezbollah that sparked fierce fighting.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had said the anti-Hezbollah moves amounted to a declaration of war and his armed fighters took to the streets a week ago, demanding the government rescind its orders. They seized control of large parts of Muslim west Beirut.

Clashes then broke out across the country, leaving 65 people dead. Much of the violence took on a sectarian tone, with mostly Shiite supporters of Hezbollah battling Sunnis who back the government.

The violence grew out of an 18-month political standoff between the government and the opposition, which quit the Cabinet in November 2006 demanding more power and a veto over all government decisions.

The deadlock has prevented parliament from electing a new president, leaving the country without a head of state for six months.

Suleiman had previously been agreed on by both camps as a consensus candidate for president. But the opposition has been blocking the vote in parliament until its demands on the makeup of the Cabinet were met.

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Associated Press writers Zeina Karam and Sam F. Ghattas contributed to this report.