Lebanese groups to resume meetings

Talks to focus on new government

BEIRUT - Lebanese factions took another major step toward calming a flare-up of sectarian and political violence yesterday by agreeing to immediately resume long-stalled talks over a new government.

The deal, brokered by a visiting delegation of Arab diplomats, appeared to be a victory for the Shi'ite militia Hezbollah, which leads the opposition to the US-backed government and the so-called March 14 movement behind it. Hezbollah fighters occupied parts of Beirut last week, forcing concessions from the administration of Prime Minister Fauod Siniora.

"Politically, it's obvious that the opposition won the first round," said Karim Makdisi, a professor of international relations at the American University of Beirut. "March 14 is in a state of strategic retreat," he said. "They will come back, but they recognize that they lost for now."

For decades, Lebanon's Christians, Druze, Shi'ites, and Sunnis, along with foreign governments supporting the factions, have jostled for power over this mountainous Mediterranean country. A 1975-90 civil war devastated the country.

Last week's fighting, which again pushed the country toward civil war, was triggered by a government decision to target Hezbollah's intelligence and communications networks. Hezbollah briefly occupied west Beirut while firefights broke out throughout the country.

The government rescinded the decisions Tuesday, setting the stage for yesterday's deal.