Lebanon’s rival factions resume national dialogue, Hezbollah’s weapons tops agenda

Lebanon’s rival groups resume national dialogue

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s political factions held a new round of national talks Tuesday, but Hezbollah made clear beforehand that its own arsenal was not up for discussion.

The Shiite militant group maintains a weapons stockpile that is larger than that of the national army. Hezbollah says the arsenal is necessary to confront any Israeli threat.

The reconciliation talks were established as part of a deal that ended deadly sectarian clashes in 2008, when Hezbollah fought rival Sunni groups backing the government.

Those clashes broke out after the government took a decision to dismantle Hezbollah’s private telecommunications network, which the group says is crucial for its survival.

Many Lebanese felt those clashes broke a pledge by Hezbollah to keep its arsenal focused on Israel, and not its rivals at home. More than 80 people were killed in the violence, pushing the country to the brink of civil war.

So far, several rounds of talks have made no progress on the formation national defense strategy that could integrate Hezbollah’s weapons into the regular armed forces. Lebanon’s government is a shaky coalition of Western-backed factions and groups led by Hezbollah.

On Monday, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem reiterated that his group would not disarm. “There is no discussion about weapons,” he said.

There were no clear details about what leaders from more than a dozen political factions discussed at Tuesday talks.

President Michel Suleiman’s office issued a statement saying the main issue on the agenda was a “national defense strategy that would unite national capabilities for defending the country.” Attendees did not elaborate on the statement and left without comment.

The talks lasted two hours and were adjourned until April 15.