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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Moussa extends Beirut mediation |
| 2008-02-10 |
| The secretary-general of the Arab League has extended his visit to Beirut to continue mediation between the Lebanese factions. Earlier on Friday he had chosen to leave having failed to broker an agreement to elect a new president after four hours of talks in the parliament building. Amr Moussa's about-turn came after a second meeting with Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker, who is aligned with the country's opposition. Distrust between the anti-Syrian ruling party and Hezbollah-led opposition is growing after a 15-month political crisis and three months with no president. Moussa has undertaken two days of talks with political leaders, but has been unable to break the deadlock and said the "sharpness of the tension" had to be fixed. Politicians have agreed on a compromise candidate, General Michel Suleiman, the army chief. Moussa said his selection was valid. However, the parliament must amend the constitution to allow a sitting military chief to be elected. Moussa, on his second visit to the Lebanese capital this year, hosted the talks with Saad al-Hariri, the majority leader, Michel Aoun, the Christian opposition leader, and Amin Gemayel, a former president who is aligned with the anti-Syrian majority bloc. |
| Posted by:Fred |