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DOHA - Lebanon's squabbling political leaders gathered in Qatar on Friday for Arab-brokered talks aimed at ending a long-running feud that drove their country to the brink of a new civil war.
After 65 people were killed in nearly a week of fighting, the US-backed Beirut government and the Hezbollah-led opposition agreed to a national dialogue aimed at electing a president and forming a unity government.
In Doha on Friday they gathered in a luxury hotel for an opening session chaired by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who then adjourned the meeting until the first round of talks proper on Saturday at 0730 GMT.
As US President George W. Bush visited neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Washington expressed its support for the Doha talks and vowed not to interfere.
"We are pleased that there is now a process, that the fighting in the streets have stopped," a senior US State Department official, who requested anonymity, told reporters.
"What we are doing is making it clear first of all that we do support this process because there are a lot of people who would like to say that we don't," he said.
"We are in touch with Lebanese from across the political spectrum... to note that we are supporting this process, that we will be helpful but not interfering with this process."
In a brief address to the politicians, Qatar's emir stressed the need to preserve Lebanon's unity and said he hoped the rivals would reach an agreement.
The two sides in the simmering political conflict met after Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri flew into Qatar on a private plane.
Christian leader Samir Geagea, former president Amin Gemayel and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt of the ruling coalition arrived separately on a Qatari aircraft that also brought opposition member and parliament speaker Nabih Berri and his ally Christian leader Michel Aoun.
The head of the militant Shiite Hezbollah movement Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah did not travel to Qatar, apparently for security reasons, and was represented by Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad instead.
"These are early days. It's just the first meeting," Geagea told reporters after the adjournment.
The feuding politicians agreed on Thursday to launch a dialogue as part of a six-point plan, following Arab League mediation led by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani.
Under the deal the rivals undertook "to shore up the authority of the Lebanese state throughout the country," to refrain from using weapons to further political aims and to remove militants from the streets.
It also urged them to refrain from using language that could incite violence.
Life began returning to normal in Beirut on Friday as the port, businesses and many schools reopened.
Lebanon's pro-government daily An-Nahar called the deal "an achievement bordering on a miracle" while the pro-opposition Al-Akhbar said: "Those going to Doha today carry an immense patriotic duty in their hands."
A group of disabled people, some wounded in Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, gathered on the Beirut airport road bearing signs for the departing political leaders: "If you don't agree, don't come back."
In the biggest challenge yet to Siniora, fighters from the Syria- and Iran-backed opposition rose up against pro-government forces last week, taking over swathes of west Beirut in the worst sectarian violence since the civil war.
Hopes of a deal rose on Wednesday after the government in a major climbdown cancelled measures against Hezbollah that had triggered the unrest.
It rescinded plans to probe a private Hezbollah telecommunications network and reassign the head of airport security over allegations he was close to the group, moves Nasrallah branded a declaration of war.
Parliament in Beirut is due to convene on June 10 for a 20th attempt to elect a president. Damascus protege Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term in November, exacerbating a crisis that began in late 2006 when six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet.
Both sides agree on army chief Michel Sleiman as Lahoud's successor, but they remain at odds over the details of a proposed unity government and a new electoral law for parliamentary polls due next year.
- AFP /ls
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