Year-long deadlock in Lebanon may be broken by Arab League

LEBANON:In a last-ditch effort to end the political crisis in Lebanon, Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa is set to arrive in Beirut today armed with an Arab plan to break the deadlock that has paralysed the country's government for 13 months, writes Michael Jansen.

The three-stage plan, adopted unanimously on Saturday by a consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers, calls for the "immediate" election of army chief Gen Michel Suleiman to the presidency, the formation of a national unity government, and the adoption of a new law governing parliamentary elections.

Mr Moussa said the president should have the power to determine the policies of the unity government so as to deny either of the two main factions, the US-backed ruling coalition and the Hizbullah-led opposition, the ability to impose its programmes on the other. Although both sides have accepted Gen Suleiman as a consensus candidate for the presidency, they have not been able to agree on the shape of the next government or the new electoral law. The rival camps yesterday praised the initiative and called for its prompt implementation.

Syria, which has been accused by the US of obstructing the election of a president, endorsed the league stance under pressure from Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In spite of US allegations to the contrary, Damascus favours Suleiman, who is seen as pro-Syrian.

But Damascus has also backed the opposition's insistence that formal endorsement of Gen Suleiman should be part of a package including agreement on a unity government and the electoral law. By strengthening the powers of the president, the Arab ministers have tried to eliminate the need for such a package.

The Lebanese crisis erupted in November 2006 when six opposition ministers withdrew from the government of prime minister Fuad Siniora on the ground that they were not being consulted on policy by the coalition headed by Saad Hariri, son of the assassinated former premier Rafiq Hariri.

The coalition enjoys a slender majority in parliament, which has been unable to secure a quorum and enact legislation due to a boycott by opposition deputies.

The crisis came to a head last November when parliament failed to elect a successor to Emile Lahoud, who stood down, leaving the presidency vacant.

Presidential powers have been assumed by the Siniora government. But it is considered illegitimate by the opposition because it does not contain representatives of Hizbullah and Amal, the main parties of the Shia community - the largest community in the country - and of the Free Patriotic Movement, the largest Christian party.

It is traditional in Lebanon for governments to comprise representatives of the Christian, Sunni, Shia and Druze communities.

The Arab League, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, Spain and France have tried and failed to break the deadlock since last summer.

The Lebanese press and populace accuse the politicians of jockeying for their own advantage at the expense of the country, but this has failed to impress the rival political camps.

Many alienated Lebanese now see their government as irrelevant.