DOHA, 18 May 2008 — Rival leaders tackled divisive issues at the heart of Lebanon’s political crisis yesterday at Qatari-mediated talks aimed at pulling their country back from the brink of civil war.

Government and opposition leaders left a conference room separately in the morning, after 90 minutes of tense talks on ending a standoff that has paralyzed the government for 18 months and left Lebanon with no president since November.

Delegates said a six-member committee established at that session and asked to create a framework for a new election law had already made progress.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani is holding consultations to bring rival leaders closer to a deal on the framework for a new government.

“The impression, thank God, from the session, shows the desire among all the factions to reach an understanding... that will bring us to the beginning of a solution to this crisis,” Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told Voice of Lebanon radio.

“We have to have faith and trust that we will do the impossible until we find solutions to this difficult stage that Lebanon has faced the past two weeks.”

Delegates said pro-government politicians and Hezbollah had got into a heated debate over the prickliest issue and the one that led to the recent clashes — Hezbollah’s arms.

Sheikh Hamad intervened to end that debate, which he said should be postponed until after a deal is clinched to end the political stalemate and allow for the election of a president.

Hezbollah says its arms are meant to protect Lebanon against its Israeli foe. Opponents, trounced in the fighting, argue they undermine the sovereignty of the state.

“There is a real will on all sides; everyone lost with what happened. The winner (Hezbollah) is the bigger loser, because it opened up the important issue of the use of weapons,” said Michel Pharaon, a minister in the Siniora government. “It is imperative that there be discussions on the sovereignty of the state ...”

There has been no deadline set for the talks but some politicians said a deal could be reached within a few days. “The issue is not simple,” government minister Ahmad Fatfat said. “Everyone will work day and night to reach a solution.”

— Additional input from agencies