Arab talks secure 'truce' in Lebanon crisis

Local newspapers said Arab League chief Amr Mussa had secured a "truce" during his mediation trip, describing it as a "half-success" toward ending weeks of political feuding that has sparked round-the-clock opposition protests in central Beirut.

Mussa left Thursday without a deal but hailed progress on two key points between Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's Western-backed government and the Shia and Christian opposition, which is demanding a greater say in running the nation's affairs.

Mussa said anti-Syrian majority government and pro-Damascus opposition leaders had agreed to form a committee to discuss a controversial international tribunal into the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, widely blamed on Syria.

Mussa also sketched the broad outline of what a potential new, expanded unity government would look like and said it was among matters up for further discussion.

"A truce for the holidays," said the opposition As-Safir newspaper, deeming the Arab efforts "a half-success."

However, the sit-in around the government's offices "will continue until a national unity government is formed and until then there is no question of leaving the streets," As-Safir quoted pro-Syrian parliament speaker Nabih Berri as telling Mussa.

"What has been done is very important but to reach a definitive agreement would require a huge miracle," As-Safir quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

Prior to Mussa's visit, opposition leaders had threatened to escalate their civil disobedience actions and even form an interim government if their demands were not met.

"Escalate to where?" Siniora asked, according to an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday.