New York, 3 March (AKI) – United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan has welcomed the national dialogue officially initiated by the Lebanese speaker of parliament on issues critical for the country, expressing hope that it will contribute to political stability there. Last month, the UN Security Council said "a broad national dialogue" was needed in Lebanon to make more progress in satisfying its resolution 1559, which called for an end to foreign influence in Lebanon.
While the withdrawal of Syrian forces and the holding of credible parliamentary elections in May and June 2005 had been accomplished, the security council
Christian legislator Butros Harb, center, gestures upon his arrival to the parliament building to attend the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders sought a solution Friday to two of the country’s most contentious issues _ the fate of their pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. Politicians said they were pleased with the talks so far and Harb said the meetings had broken ‘psychological barriers’ among former foes. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
Lebanon‘s Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (R) and Christian Maronite deputy George Adwan (C) shake hands, next to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during a politicians’ meeting held in parliament in downtown Beirut March 3, 2006. Rival Lebanese politicians debated whether to remove pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud at a second day of crisis talks on Friday aimed at ending the country’s worst political crisis in 16 years. REUTERS/ Hassan Ibrahim/Pool
Reuters – 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
Sunni Muslim lawmaker Saad Hariri, right, reacts in the presence of Public Works and Transportation Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, center, and Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, left, ahead of the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders sought a solution Friday to two of the country’s most contentious issues _ the fate of their pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 2 hours, 3 minutes ago
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, left, talks to General Michel Aoun, right, ahead of the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders huddled behind closed doors on Friday in an attempt to find solutions to the most contentious issues: the fate of the Lebanon‘s pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Hassan Ibrahim, Pool)
AP – 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
Leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces militia Samir Geagea, left, listens to former President Amin Gemayel, right, ahead of the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders huddled behind closed doors on Friday in an attempt to find solutions to the most contentious issues: the fate of the Lebanon‘s pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Hassan Ibrahim, Pool)
AP – 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
Lebanon‘s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, right, listens to Ali Hassan Khalil, left, lawmaker of the Shiite Amal group ahead of the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders huddled behind closed doors on Friday in an attempt to find solutions to the most contentious issues: the fate of the Lebanon‘s pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Hassan Ibrahim, Pool)
AP – 2 hours, 37 minutes ago
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, right, shakes hands with Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, left, ahead of the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders huddled behind closed doors on Friday in an attempt to find solutions to the most contentious issues: the fate of the Lebanon‘s pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Hassan Ibrahim, Pool)
AP – 2 hours, 57 minutes ago
In this photo made available by Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, Lebanese lawmaker Saad Hariri, left, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, second left, pray in front of the grave of Rafik Hariri, seen in poster, right, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders huddled behind closed doors on Friday in an attempt to find solutions to the most contentious issues: the fate of the pro-Syrian president and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Al-Mustaqbal Newspaper, HO)
AP – Mar 03 6:52 AM
From left to right, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Samir Geagea, leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces militia, General Michel Aoun and lawmaker George Adwan talk ahead of the inter-Lebanese national dialogue designed to resolve the country’s deep divisions since the end of Syrian domination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, March 3, 2006. Lebanon‘s rival leaders huddled behind closed doors on Friday in an attempt to find solutions to the most contentious issues: the fate of the Lebanon‘s pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Hezbollah’s weapons. (AP Photo/Hassan Ibrahim, Pool)
AP – Mar 03 6:51 A
