By Laila Bassam
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A high-level Arab League delegationbegan a mediation mission in Beirut on Wednesday to try to pullLebanon back from the brink of civil war.
The delegation will seek to defuse tension between theU.S.-backed governing coalition and Iranian-backed Hezbollah,which has routed its rivals in the worst spate of violenceamong Lebanese since the 1975-90 civil war.
At least 81 people have been killed since violence brokeout on May 7.
"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, ledby Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabral-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.
The delegation, which includes several Arab foreignministers, flew in to Beirut's international airport on aprivate jet. The facility closed when Hezbollah-led oppositionblocked all roads leading to it last week.
Hezbollah activists removed roadblocks on the airport roadto allow the Arab mediators passage to the city.
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.
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.
PATH TO DIALOGUE
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."
The decision to ban Hezbollah's communications network wasregarded as a declaration of war by the group. Hezbollah wasalso infuriated by the cabinet's move to fire Beirut airport'ssecurity chief, who is close to the group.
Berri will be the first leader the delegation meets.
Another political source said the pro-government leaderswanted guarantees Hezbollah would pull out of the streets andvow not to use its guns against its foes before any dialogue.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has called a cabinet meetinglater on Wednesday. The government could annul the decisions atthe session.
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.
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."