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Dubai: The Lebanese cabinet on Wednesday night cancelled two measures it took against Hezbollah, which triggered the worst internal fighting in the country since the 1975-90 civil war.
The government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said in a statement after a meeting that it was taking the step to preserve civil peace and facilitate an Arab League mediation effort to end Lebanon’s 18-month-old political crisis.
The settlement was partly the result of the Arab League intervention aimed at breaking the deadlock. The team, headed by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani, held talks with members of the ruling majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition, including Speaker Nabih Berri, from the opposition, and Siniora.
According to Lebanese TV reports, Berri earlier told the delegation the opposition “will end its civil disobedience if the government revokes its two decisions,” which were aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s communication network and removing the head of the airport security, believed to be close to the opposition. The Arab mediation team is also expected to meet Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush, visiting Israel on Wednesday, accused Iran of trying to destabilise Lebanon through its support for Hezbollah as he reaffirmed support for Prime Minister Siniora.
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