Qatar offers Lebanon proposal
Arab mediators suggest establishment of unity government to ease Lebanon crisis.
Published On 20 May 2008
Al Jazeera’s Rula Amin said: “The Qataris are trying to come up with some creative solutions to overcome the differences between the two sides, but will have to wait to see if these new ideas will satisfy both sides.”
The Doha talks focused on the makeup of a new government and a new electoral law.
‘Much at stake’
Amin said: “The main stumbling block is the electoral law, especially how to deal with the elections in Beirut … both sides have a lot at stake.”
Due to the potential affect on a future election in Lebanon, reorganising the districts of the capital has proven divisive.
Arab mediators say there is no timeframe for the talks. Sunday had previously been expected to be a decisive day.
The talks were brokered to end days of street battles across Lebanon betwen pro- and anti-government armed groups that left at least 81 people dead.
Samir Geagea, the leader of pro-government group the Executive Body of Lebanese Forces, said that he feared the Lebanese dialogue in Doha would “not lead to the required result”.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Geagea said that the reason behind his fear was the refusal of some parties to discuss key issues including “the use of violence in political life in Lebanon”.
Source: Al Jazeera