...

Lebanese factions vow to carry out peaceful elections

Other News Materials 2 March 2009 23:46 (UTC +04:00)

Lebanon's rival political factions vowed on Monday to carry out a peaceful legislative election in June, a statement by the Lebanese presidential palace said.

The conferees pledged "not to resort to any kind of violence," President Michel Suleiman's office said in a statement, dpa reported.

The pledge came during the fifth round of national dialogue talks between the ruling majority in parliament that is against former Lebanese powerbroker Syria and the opposition led by the pro-Syrian Islamist group Hezbollah.

The talks focused on the need to avoid sectarian clashes ahead of the June 7 general election that will pit the parliamentary majority against the opposition.

There were fears that before the elections the country might face street violence similar to the May 2008 clashes in which at least 82 people were killed.

The national dialogue talks have been adjourned until April 28. The dialogue between the factions in Lebanon came as a result of last May's Doha Agreement, which ended the seven days of armed street battles and led to the election of President Suleiman and the formation of a national unity government.

The issue of Hezbollah's large weapons arsenal however has delayed reaching common ground between the pro- and anti-Syrian camps.

The Western-backed parliamentary majority states Hezbollah's arsenal undermines the authority of the state, while the opposition argues that Hezbollah's weapons are a deterrent against neighbouring Israel.

Latest

Latest