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Arab League chief upbeat on possible Lebanon deal | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora gestures during a speech to his supporters at the Government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 December 2006 (EPA)


Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora gestures during a speech to his supporters at the Government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 December 2006 (EPA)

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora gestures during a speech to his supporters at the Government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 December 2006 (EPA)

BEIRUT,(Reuters) – Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Wednesday he was making significant progress towards a deal to end Lebanon’s political crisis. “In my estimation, there is a great hope that we will reach something (an agreement) on the various issues,” Moussa told reporters after talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. “When I speak of progress, it is progress in the whole package,” he said, saying his talks with various Lebanese leaders focused on a number of controversial issues, not just a government crisis.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, and other opposition factions want veto power in the cabinet of Siniora, who is supported by the United States.

The opposition has declared Siniora’s government illegitimate and has been staging a round-the-clock protest in central Beirut since December 1 to press its demands.

The League is pushing for a deal based on a number of contentious issues, namely the shape of the cabinet, early presidential and parliamentary elections, and passage of a law setting up an international court to try suspected killers of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Moussa, who arrived in Beirut on Tuesday, said all leaders must make concessions to resolve the crisis. “There can be no progress without all sides agreeing on a common ground that has gains and maybe some concessions. What is important is the Lebanese principle of no victor and no vaquished,” he said.

Senior League official Hesham Youssef told Reuters the mediators had an “extremely positive” meeting on Tuesday with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, whose powerful group is leading the opposition.

Youssef, a senior aide to Moussa, said: “Responses are so far encouraging, but we haven’t reached a conclusive outcome as of yet. “We are awaiting responses from key political forces,” Youssef said. “We’re hopeful that it will be a quick process because the situation is extremely tense. I am hopeful.”

Moussa said he would hold more talks with several Lebanese leaders from both camps later in the day.

Lebanese women supporters of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, hold banners that read 'you make us proud'  at the Government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 December 2006 (EPA)

Lebanese women supporters of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, hold banners that read ‘you make us proud’ at the Government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 December 2006 (EPA)

Head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, arrived in Beirut on Tuesday facing an uphill struggle to mediate an end to a political standoff between Lebanon's governmentand the Hezbollah-led opposition (EPA)

Head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, arrived in Beirut on Tuesday facing an uphill struggle to mediate an end to a political standoff between Lebanon’s governmentand the Hezbollah-led opposition (EPA)