Lebanese Parliament house speaker Nabih Berri (L) talks with opposition Christian leader Michel Aoun during an opposition meeting in Doha May 19, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters file Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani said Wednesday that Lebanese rival leaders have agreed to elect a new president within 24 hours, local NBN TV reported.

    Lebanese leaders reached an agreement in Doha talks on resolving the current political crisis, Sheikh Hamad was quoted assaying.

    He announced that the rival leaders agreed to elect Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as a new president in the upcoming 24 hours, to form a government based on a 16-11-3 formula(16 for the majority, 11 for the opposition and 3 to be chosen by the president) and adopting 1960 electoral law.

    The agreement called for the state control over all Lebanese areas, and the refrain by all groups from the use of arms to achieve political gains.

    "Weapons and violence would not be used in political differences," Sheikh Hamad announced, adding that "the security and military control would be in the state hands to preserve coexistence among the Lebanese."

    During the conference, Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri announced that the sit-in tent demonstration which has been set in downtown Beirut for 18 months, will be removed from Wednesday.

    Lebanese rival leaders have been meeting since last Saturday in the Qatari capital city of Doha, aiming at solving the long ongoing political crisis in the country, which turned violent between pro-government and opposition supporters about two weeks ago.

    Lebanon is facing the most complicated political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. Lebanese political rival groups were unable to achieve a breakthrough to elect a new president for the country since Nov. 24 last year when ex-president Emile Lahoud ended his term.

A Lebanese boy walks in front of shops damaged during recent clashes in central Beirut May 19, 2008. Talks to end Lebanon's political crisis suffered a setback on Monday after the Hezbollah-led opposition appeared to ignore proposals by Qatari mediators aimed at pulling the country back from the brink of civil war.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Egypt welcomes Doha agreement on ending Lebanese crisis

   CAIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Wednesday welcomed the latest developments that the Lebanese political factions reached in Doha an agreement to end the Lebanese crisis.

    In a press release, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said the agreement ended a complicated crisis that has been gripping Lebanon for the past 18 months.Full story

AL hails Doha agreement to settle Lebanese political crisis

    CAIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) on Wednesday hailed the Doha agreement to settle the Lebanese political crisis as a good example of joint Arab efforts, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

    The deal boosts hopes in the ability of the joint Arab action to solve problems of the Arab nation, Abdel-Alim al-Abiyadh, spokesman of the pan-Arab body chief, was quoted as saying. Full story

Syrian FM affirms support to Lebanon agreement on solving crisis

    DAMASCUS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem affirmed support to the agreement reached by rival Lebanese parties during their talks in the Qatari capital Doha, the official SANA news agency reported.

   Muallem made the remarks when attending the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in the Bahraini capital Manama, saying the deal would put an end to the political crisis in Lebanon.  Full story

Lebanese leaders reach agreement on resolving crisis

   BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese rival leaders in Doha reached Wednesday an agreement on resolving the political crisis, NBN TV quoted the opposition parliament member (MP) Ali Hasan Khalil as saying.

    The agreement calls for electing a president immediately, forming a government based on a 16-11-3 formula (16 for the majority, 11 for the opposition and 3 to be chosen by the president)and adopting 1960 electoral law, said the report.Full story

Opposition lawmaker: Lebanon's rivals agree to end crisis

   BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition agreed on Wednesday in their Doha talks to end their political conflict that has pushed the country to the brink of a civil war, said an opposition lawmaker.

    The opposition lawmaker, Ali Hassan Hariri, said that leaders of the rival Lebanese factions have reached agreement to resolve their 18-month political crisis after five days of intensive talks in Qatar. Full story

Disputes over power sharing obstruct Lebanon's Doha talks 

    BEIRUT, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Inter-Lebanese talks held in the Qatari capital of Doha make little progress until dawn Tuesday due to intransigence from both the opposition and the majority regarding government formation and election law.

    The Hezbollah-led opposition said Monday after a meeting by its leaders in Doha that an agreement should be reached on the distribution of power within a national unity government and on the new election law prior to electing Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president.Full story

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