Mediators broker deal

Arab League mediators brokered a deal yesterday to end Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the civil war, political sources said, after the US-supported government backed down in its conflict with Hezbollah.

The sources said the head of an Arab League delegation, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani, will invite the government and Hezbollah-led opposition to Qatar for talks to resolve Lebanon's broader political conflict which has paralyzed the country for 18 months, the sources said.

The deal, brokered after two days of talks, includes the lifting of a Hezbollah-led blockade on Beirut's sea and air ports, the end of armed presence in the streets and a pledge not use weapons to settle domestic political differences, they said.

(China Daily 05/16/2008 page12)