Lebanese factions reach deal

Lebanon's feuding factions reached a breakthrough deal yesterday that ends the country's long political stalemate, but also gives the militant Hezbollah group and allies the key power they sought - a veto over any decision of the US-backed government.

The deal, reached with the help of Arab mediators, was immediately praised by Hezbollah's backers Iran and Syria. But it seems certain to accelerate fears in the West over Hezbollah's new power.

One senior government official, Saad Hariri, seemed to acknowledge his side had largely caved in in the talks - spurred by a sharp outbreak of violence earlier this month after 18 months of deadlock.