Arab mediators seek to defuse Lebanon conflict

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A high-level Arab League delegationstarts a mediation mission in Beirut on Wednesday to try topull Lebanon back from the brink of a new civil war.

The delegation will seek to defuse tension between theU.S.-backed governing coalition and Iranian-backed Hezbollah,which routed its rivals in the worst spate of violence amongLebanese since the 1975-90 civil war. At least 81 people havebeen killed.

"The Arab League mission opens a window for a solution," asenior Lebanese political source said. "It has specific stepsthat raise hopes of a compromise deal."

Arab foreign ministers had agreed to send the mission, tobe led by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim binJabr al-Thani and Arab League chief Amr Moussa, after Hezbollahbriefly seized control of the Muslim part of Beirut beforehanding it over to the army last week.

If it succeeds in easing tension, the Arab delegation isexpected to invite the rival leaders to Qatar for talks aimedat resolving their protracted political conflict, the sourcesaid.

The broader political dispute revolves around how to sharepower in cabinet and a new parliamentary election law. The18-month-long conflict -- a standoff between an anti-Syriancabinet and opposition forces backed by Damascus -- has leftLebanon without a president since November.

Nabih Berri, who is speaker of parliament and also aprominent opposition leader, said the government must annul twodecisions it took against Hezbollah last week and whichtriggered the group's partial takeover of Beirut.

"That is the way to the solution and the path to dialogue,"Berri, leader of the Shi'ite Amal movement, told thepro-opposition al-Akhbar newspaper. "The alternative todialogue leaves difficult options. This is what we don't want."

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has called the cabinet for ameeting later on Wednesday. The government could annul thedecisions at the session.

FEARS OF STRIFE

The decision to ban Hezbollah's communications network wasseen as a declaration of war by the group, which routed itsrivals in six days of fighting that erupted on May 7. Hezbollahwas also infuriated by the cabinet's move to fire Beirutairport's security chief, who is close to the group.

The fighting quickly took sectarian tones, raising concernsLebanon was edging towards wider civil strife among Druze andSunni supporters of the governing coalition and Shi'ites whoback Hezbollah.

Hezbollah activists began to remove roadblocks on theairport road on Wednesday to give the Arab mediators passage tothe city.

Governing coalition leader Saad al-Hariri, Lebanon's mostpowerful Sunni politician, pledged on Tuesday there would be nopolitical surrender to what he called an attempt by Hezbollahand its Syrian and Iranian backers to impose their will.

He welcomed Arab mediation and left the door open forcompromise. "I hope that with the Arab delegation we will finda solution," Hariri said. "We have reached the point ofsectarian strife and everyone must compromise."

U.S. President George W. Bush is to consult allies on howto assist Lebanon when he visits the region this week.

Saudi Arabia, also a backer of the governing coalition, hassaid Hezbollah's actions, if backed by Iran, could threatenTehran's ties with Arab states. Iran has blamed the UnitedStates for the violence in Lebanon.

(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Matthew Jones)