BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Lebanon's rival political factions agreed to observe a "media truce" at a meeting designed to iron out their deep political differences.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told reporters after the first round of dialogue, which lasted four hours Monday, that "the decision to observe a truce in the media is aimed at easing tensions and reaffirming that the dialogue is serious."
Berri, who heads the Shiite Amal Movement, said the leaders reviewed all problems and issues of contention and stressed the need to reach a settlement "because it is no longer acceptable to keep the situation as it is now."
He said the "ice was broken" and all "agreed on the importance" to close ranks and show solidarity. Berri said the consultations will resume Tuesday.
The talks basically involved the anti-Syria multi-sectarian coalition known as the "March 14 Gathering" on one hand, and the Iranian-backed Shiite Hezbollah and its Christian ally, the Free Patriotic Movement of former army commander Gen. Michel Aoun, on the other.
Berri is trying to play a catalyst role by seeking a compromise settlement for Hezbollah's demand for a national unity government to replace Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's March 14-dominated administration. Hezbollah threatened to force the government's collapse on the streets if dialogue failed.
The anti-Syria coalition reacted by threatening to take to the streets in support of Siniora's government. But the two camps eventually agreed to return to the negotiating table at Berri's initiative, which set a week-long deadline for discussing a national unity government and a new elections law.
