Qatari-Turkish mediation bids to solve Lebanon crisis

Turkey's FM, Qatari PM meet Lebanese rivals in bid to avoid breakout of violence over STL spat.

Middle East Online

Last minute push BEIRUT - The Turkish and Qatari foreign ministers have met with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah as part of efforts to mediate the latest political crisis in Lebanon, the Shiite group announced Wednesday. Ahmet Davutoglu and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jaber al-Thani met with Nasrallah at a secret location and made no comments afterwards. A statement issued by Hezbollah said the talks late Tuesday focused on finding a solution to the deepening political crisis in Lebanon that many fear could spiral into sectarian violence. "The meeting addressed the current political crisis in Lebanon, notably the issue of the international tribunal and the new government," the statement said. Focused on finding a solution It was referring to the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) probing the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri and the collapse last week of the unity government of Saad Hariri, the slain leader's son. The STL, which issued indictments in the case on Monday, has been at the centre of a long-running dispute between the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and the Western-backed Hariri. Nasrallah has said he believes members of his party will be implicated in Hariri's murder and has warned against such a scenario, accusing the STL of being part of a US-Israeli plot. Davutoglu and Sheikh Hamad, who is also Qatar's premier, met on Tuesday with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Hariri. The two men also held talks in Damascus on Monday with Syria's leadership.