Lebanese rivals agree to power-sharing deal

Squabbling factions early this morning cut a deal to end Lebanon’s worst political crisis since its lengthy civil war, one that this month threatened to plunge the country into another conflict, local media reported.

According to reports in opposition and pro-government media, the political parties representing the Western-backed government and the opposition led by the Shiite Muslim militia Hezbollah agreed during talks in Qatar to a power-sharing formula. It would propel Lebanese army Chief of Staff Michel Suleiman, a Christian, to the presidency, which has been vacant for six months.

The deal would also end an 18-month Hezbollah-led civil disobedience campaign that has paralyzed the government and strangled Beirut’s downtown business district.

The deal was to be formally announced later today. It appears to grant both sides concessions, according to opposition and pro-government newspapers. The opposition Akhbar daily hailed it as a “a new page for Lebanon,” while the pro-government Nahar’s front-page headline said, “Congratulations to Lebanon.”

Under the deal, the opposition will get enough Cabinet seats to block any major government decision, such as a move to take away Hezbollah’s arsenal of weapons, which the group says it needs to defend itself against Israel, newspapers reported.

The pro-government side, led by Sunni Muslim leader Saad Hariri, appeared to have secured favorable electoral legislation, with 10 seats allocated for Beirut’s Sunni districts and nine for Christian and mixed parts.

“In its essence, this is a compromise,” said Talal Atrissi, a Lebanese University professor.

A months-long standoff between the government and the opposition threatened to explode into civil war this month. Hezbollah gunmen and allied militias, provoked by a government decision targeting the militia’s telecommunications and intelligence capabilities, briefly invaded West Beirut and attacked the political offices of government supporters.

 daragahi@latimes.com

Daragahi is a Times staff writer and Rafei is a special correspondent.