BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 15 (UPI) -- Lebanon's rival political leaders are scheduled to resume dialogue over controversial issues, including the fate of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.
The meeting, organized by speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who also heads the Shiite Amal Movement, will convene Tuesday amid little hope of agreement between the leaders who are divided between pro- and anti-Syria groups.
At the last session of dialogue, held in downtown Beirut April 28, the rival politicians failed to reach an agreement on the fate of Lahoud's extended mandate, which anti-Syria groups consider illegitimate because it was granted at Syria's behest and following the intimidation of lawmakers.
Pro-Syria Hezbollah and Amal, in addition to the Christian Free Patriotic Movement of Gen. Michel Aoun, have expressed reservations about impeaching Lahoud and holding presidential elections to choose a successor.
In addition to Lahoud's fate, other controversial issues to be discussed include relations with Syria, the fate of Hezbollah's arms and the future of the Israeli-occupied Shabaa Farms in south Lebanon, which Beirut claims as part of its own territory, while Israel insists it was captured from Syria and should be settled with Damascus.
Despite the deadlock in negotiations, most politicians believe they have no other choice than dialogue.
Anti-Syria politicians are demanding the disarmament of Hezbollah after the liberation of all Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation, but the Party of God say the fate of its arms should be discussed as part of a strategy to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.
In another development, Syria Monday began to remove sand barricades it had erected inside Lebanese territory on the Syrian-Lebanese border.
An official source said military and civilian officials from both Lebanon and Syria were overseeing the elimination of the barricades in the vicinity of Arsal village, in eastern Lebanon.
