Beirut sputters over national talks

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 9 (UPI) -- Lebanese lawmakers suspended their national dialogue session Tuesday following two hours of debate on national security issues, officials said in Beirut.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman presided over the debate at the presidential palace Tuesday in Beirut. Suleiman summoned his defense minister to the session to highlight the focus on national security issues.

Lebanon is debating its security options amid a tense border situation with Israel. Both sides are blamed for violating terms of a U.N.-brokered cease-fire from 2006.

Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces political party and key pro-Western figure, said national security was the only topic discussed Tuesday, adding the matter made little progress, Hezbollah's al-Manar news station reports.

Lawmakers are divided over whether Hezbollah should maintain its weapons. A 2009 measure grants Hezbollah, now holding Cabinet ministries, the right to keep its weapons. Opponents of the measure argue that gives Israel justification to stay on alert.

Al-Manar said the session was postponed to March 15 after barely two hours of talks. The United Nations is to review its Lebanon file Friday.