BEIRUT — Lebanon’s ruling coalition demanded Saturday that talks to end the country’s 18- month-old political crisis tackle the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, a demand the militant group rejected.
Hezbollah insisted that the group’s arsenal remain untouched, saying it was necessary for fighting Israel, Lebanese media reported. It was the first day of the negotiations in Doha, Qatar, on forming a unity government and electing a president after the country’s worst violence since the 1975-90 civil war.
The two sides flew to Qatar after a deal mediated by the Arab League that brought an end to a week of violence and reportedly will lead to the election of compromise candidate army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.
The weapons demand was seen as an attempt by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s side to guarantee that Hezbollah won’t take to the streets again as it did when it overran Sunni Muslim West Beirut in clashes that killed 67 people.
The Associated Press
