lebanonnewsnetwork.com

Arab-sponsored inter-Lebanese dialogue opens in Qatar Saturday in a bid to end the long-running political crisis that drove the country to the brink of a new civil war after pro- and anti-government supporters fought bloody gunbattles that left at least 65 people killed in nearly a week. (more…)

Leaders of Lebanon’s opposition and pro-government parties will head to Doha on Friday to hold talks aimed at defusing a long-running feud between rival political factions, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said Thursday. (more…)

posted by washingtoninstitute.org

By David Schenker
May 9, 2008

This week, the democratically elected, pro-Western Lebanese government took the bold and unprecedented decision to confront Hizballah. Since its election in 2005, the government had avoided direct conflict with the well-armed Shiite militant political party, but several of the organization’s activities — including apparent preparations for yet another war with Israel — led the government to provoke a showdown. In response to a May 8 cabinet statement that focused on Hizballah’s “attack on the sovereignty of the state,” the Shiite organization took to the streets. In the ensuing violence — the most intense since Lebanon’s civil war — Hizballah began occupying parts of Beirut, leaving the future of Lebanon in doubt. (more…)

Arab League mediators announced a deal on Thursday to end Lebanon’s worst internal fighting since the civil war, after the U.S.-supported government backed down in its conflict with Hezbollah. Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani also summoned Lebanon’s government and Hezbollah-led opposition to Qatar for talks to resolve a broader political showdown which has paralyzed the country for 18 months. (more…)

The terrorist Fatah al-Islam group has said it will stand by the Sunnis if Beirut was threatened.In a statement published by the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Thursday under the headline: “Lies and Excuses to Slaughter Sunnis in Lebanon,” Fatah al-Islam warned to confront “anybody who wants to bow the heads of our people in Beirut,” an indirect reference to the Hizbullah-led opposition. (more…)

Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly informed the Arab delegation that there were no changes to the dialogue agenda regarding formation of a national unity government and the Qada-based electoral law. “This is enough to elect (army commander) Gen. Michel Suleiman.” (more…)

Prime Minister Fouad Saniora’s cabinet has revoked measures that annoyed Hizbullah and sparked violence between pro- and anti-government supporters. The decision by the country’s rump Western-backed cabinet on Wednesday prompted celebratory gunfire across the Hizbullah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut. (more…)

Calm prevailed over Lebanon as an Arab delegation was due in Beirut on Wednesday to try to broker a settlement to the ongoing political crisis that led to the country’s worst sectarian fighting since the 1975-90 civil war.The army stepped up patrols as part of a drive to restore order after a week of gunbattles left at least 62 people killed and 200 wounded. (more…)

Fierce battles resumed Tuesday in northern Lebanon, further exacerbating tensions after days of sectarian unrest that has driven the nation to the brink of full-blown civil war. Fighting erupted shortly after 3:00 am (0000 GMT) between supporters of Lebanon’s Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition in the city of Tripoli, with fighters using machine guns, mortars and rocked-propelled grenades, a security official and an AFP correspondent said. (more…)