Arab mediators have unveiled a deal to defuse a long-running feud between rival political factions that drove deeply divided Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.
Under the agreement announced after two days of intensive talks, the factions agreed to relaunch a dialogue to end a political crisis that boiled over into six days of deadly sectarian gunbattles last week.
Arab leaders have been scrambling to end the standoff between the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition; a dispute regarded as part of a wider conflict between US regional allies and Syria and Iran.
Under a six-point plan the rivals agreed to go to Qatar tomorrow to begin a national dialogue to try to elect a president and form a national unity government.
Last week fighters from opposition rose up against pro-government forces, taking over parts of west Beirut in the worst sectarian violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Under the deal, the rivals agreed to launch a dialogue, to refrain from using weapons to further political aims and to remove armed militants from the streets.
It also called for the removal of all roadblocks that have paralysed air traffic and closed major highways, and for the rivals to refrain from using language that could incite violence.
