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Last update - 00:00 11/12/2006
Arab League envoy: Syria backs initiative to end Lebanon crisis
By Reuters

Sudanese presidential advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail on Monday said that Syria supports an Arab League mediation to end the political crisis in Lebanon between its ally Hezbollah and the Western-backed government.

"I have received confirmation from the brothers in Syria that they are with Lebanese consensus and support our efforts," Ismail, who was sent by the Arab League to Lebanon and Syria, told reporters.

"I was told by the rival factions in Lebanon that they have agreed in principle to our proposals. I am returning to Lebanon today to resume our efforts," said Ismail, after meeting witht Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in Damascus.
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Ismail said that Syria, which wants to see a new Lebanese national unity government, was fundamental to the success of the Arab initiative.

"Syria is pivotal. I have explained to Moualem the efforts we have made so far to control the deterioration in Lebanon and stressed the importance of realizing that there will be no victors or losers," Ismail said.

The Sudanese envoy will hold talks on the Arab League proposals with Lebanese leaders later on Monday, following a show of force by the Hezbollah-led opposition. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa will join him on Tuesday.

Both men had separate talks in Beirut last week.

The Arab League's mediation includes a proposal on a unity government, passage of a U.N.-proposed international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and early presidential and parliamentary elections.

Syria said it wants nothing to do with the tribunal, partly due to the fact that it is being set up while a U.N. investigation into the assassination has not been completed.

The inquiry has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials in the killing. Damascus denies involvement.

The anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon says Damascus is bent on foiling the setting up of the tribunal and reasserting its influence over Lebanon, where it was the dominant foreign power until forced to pull out its troops last year.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters attended a rally in central Beirut on Sunday to press demands for a national unity government that grants more power to Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah and its Christian and Muslim allies.

Western-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his anti-Syrian allies have refused, saying Hezbollah wanted to place Lebanon under the tutelage of Syria and Iran, but the prime minister again called on Sunday for dialogue.

Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Sami Haddad on Monday said that the political crisis in Lebanon could threaten an aid conference next month which could bring billions of dollars to the war-hit economy.

Haddad said the government was preparing for the international conference on the assumption that it will take place in Paris as scheduled, on January 25., but said that "if the political tension continues, there is a very serious risk this conference will either be postponed or, God forbid, cancelled."

Ismail told Arabiya television from Damascus that all parties in Lebanon had agreed to Arab League mediation. He said talks would resume on a package deal to include demands from both sides.

He said the proposal covers a unity government, passage of a UN-proposed international tribunal to try suspects in last year's killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, early presidential and parliamentary elections.

Lebanese political sources said Ismail and Moussa would face a mountain to climb to get all parties not just to agree on the various issues but also on the sequence of implementing them.
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Gilad or Gilad?
Olmert is too focused on the wrong Gilad.
Take this waltz
"Waltz with Bashir" was not made for Hollywood, it was made for human beings.
  1.   Translation 09:36  |  Paulo 11/12/06
  2.   Paulo, of Lisbon, Portugal, has been running Israel`s political 10:21  |  Nadav 11/12/06
  3.   democracy 10:23  |  observer 11/12/06
  4.   re: Nadav #2 14:17  |  Paulo 11/12/06
  5.   Come to think of it, the recent Israel/Lebanon war 14:45  |  George 11/12/06
  6.   split lebanon into a confederation os smaller states... 15:26  |  Gabriel. 11/12/06
  7.   deja vu 15:43  |  Ian 11/12/06
  8.   The Sudanese presidential advisor 15:45  |  Jonathan S 11/12/06
  9.   Junk 15:45  |  mazen 11/12/06
  10.   Syria laughable 16:04  |  Twogunz 11/12/06
  11.   Lets do it the UN way 16:07  |  Twogunz 11/12/06
  12.   Hizbollah does not act democratic 16:31  |  steve 11/12/06
  13.   Change Beirut`s name to New Tehran 17:02  |  Dave 11/12/06
  14.   What will happen to Sunnis, Druze and Christians in Lebanon? 17:04  |  Dave 11/12/06
  15.   Lebanon`s democracy is deplorable 17:12  |  Dave 11/12/06
  16.   To racist Dave 18:54  |  Paul 11/12/06
  17.   Democracy Dave? 19:01  |  Ziad 11/12/06
  18.   Iran and Syria controlling the Christian sector 19:11  |  Pablo B 11/12/06
  19.   Democracy in lebanon 21:07  |  Dave 11/12/06
  20.   Response to Dave from Toronto 11:48  |  Lena 24/02/09
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