Arab mediators expected to seal Beirut deal

BEIRUT (Reuters) - An Arab League delegation is expected toconclude a deal in Lebanon on Thursday, defusing a crisis thatled to six days of armed conflict and threatened to start a newcivil war.

The delegation is expected to announce talks in Qataraiming to resolve the broader political conflict that hasparalysed Lebanon for 18 months and is seen as a proxy strugglebetween the United States and Iran.

The U.S.-backed government cancelled measures on Wednesdaythat had angered Hezbollah and triggered a military campaign bythe powerful Iranian-backed Shi'ite group against Lebanese foesit said had declared war.

The cancellation met one of Hezbollah's demands and easedtension in Beirut, which the group briefly controlled during acampaign that triggered fighting with Sunni and Druzegovernment supporters.

At least 81 people were killed in the fighting, the worstamong Lebanese since the 1975-90 civil war.

Hezbollah, which leads an alliance of opposition factions,also demanded the ruling coalition agree to talks as acondition for ending a civil disobedience campaign which hasincluded roadblocks that have paralysed the capital.

The roadblocks, including barricades on the airport road,are expected to be lifted on Thursday after the Arab Leaguedelegation, headed by the prime minister of Qatar, announcesagreement on the talks to be held in Doha.

The talks will tackle the dispute over how to share powerin the cabinet and the details of a new parliamentary electionlaw. It is not clear when they will begin. The row hasparalysed much of government and left Lebanon with no presidentsince November.

The dispute is seen as a struggle for influence betweenSyria, which backs the opposition, and Saudi Arabia, whichsupports the ruling coalition. Any deal would result in armycommander General Michel Suleiman being elected head of state.

The United States has blamed the trouble in Lebanon onIran, Syria and Hezbollah -- a political movement with apowerful guerrilla army.

Iran blames the United States for the violence, whicherupted after government action to outlaw a communicationsnetwork vital to Hezbollah's military and security wings.

The ruling coalition accuses the opposition of trying torestore Syrian control of Lebanon and secure a strongerfoothold for Iran in the country.

Syria dominated Lebanon until 2005, when the assassinationof statesman Rafik al-Hariri triggered international pressurethat forced it to end its military presence after nearly threedecades and plunged the country into crisis.

(Editing by Tim Pearce)