May 19, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1429

BEIRUT: The violence-weary Lebanese are hoping that their leaders will return home from Arab-brokered talks in Qatar armed with a solution to heal a feud that has plunged the country into deadly chaos.

“I feel that this time, despite all the difficulties, they will reach an agreement, especially after all the bloodshed of recent days,” businessman Abdullah Abu Tahan said.Rival Lebanese leaders are meeting in Qatar in a bid to resolve a protracted political crisis which turned violent this month when pro- and anti-government forces fought fierce sectarian battles that killed 65 people.

The talks between the Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, and the ruling majority, backed by the West, are focused on electing a president, forming a unity government and a new electoral law.

The thorniest issue is whether the Hezbollah movement should continue to have weapons even though all other militias were disarmed at the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

“The leaders saw with their own eyes the bloodletting and they will not return from Qatar without a solution,” said Abu Tahan at his shop in west Beirut’s Hamra shopping district.

The militant Hezbollah seized control of Beirut’s mostly Muslim half at the height of clashes pitting it against Sunni and Druze pro-government forces.

The clashes, which also spread to other areas of Lebanon, erupted after the government ordered a probe into Hezbollah’s telecommunications network a move seen by the group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah as a declaration of war.

Last week the government revoked the decision and agreed with its partners in the ruling majority to join the opposition for the Arab League-brokered talks.

But Abu Tahan, echoing the feeling of many of his compatriots, complained that “the Lebanese are unable of finding their own solutions” and must seek outside help.

Saudi Arabia hosted a national dialogue in 1989 that led to the Taef accords which ended the civil war.

Mohammed Ballout said he expects the country’s political leaders to heed the blunt message a group of disabled people held up for them to see as they left for Qatar on Friday.

“If you don’t agree, don’t come back,” said the signs.

Ballout expects the feuding politicians to help restore calm in Lebanon, even a “precarious” one.

“Some factions have no interest in seeing an agreement reached,” he said, and named Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and Christian leader Samir Geagea, coalition partners and former warlords during the civil conflict.Jumblatt and Geagea “want to destroy the country because they are used to waging war. But Arab determination (to reach a solution) will overcome their bad intentions,” Ballout added.

Abu Tahan said he was sure that the Arab League “has concocted a remedy” for Lebanon, but conceded that relief might be short-lived.

Beirut resident Nizar Malluh said that he was 85 per cent optimistic that a solution will be found.

“The situation has changed. A solution is on track and no one can stop the train from moving,” he said.

Malluh believes that an agreement will undermine the majority but he is convinced that the rival factions have “finally realised that power-sharing is the only alternative” after the deadly fighting. But some Lebanese, Abdel Qader Kabbani among them, are not at all confident.

“How can I be optimistic? After clouds there is rain. So where are the positive signs?” he asked.

—AFP