Arab leaders hope to bid a deal to settle sectarian clashes that brought Lebanon close to civil war [EPA]

The agreement on Thursday followed two-days of negotiations by the Arab delegation with government and opposition leaders.
 
The Doha talks will tackle how to share power in the cabinet and the details of a new parliamentary election law.
 
The Arab delegation was expected to announce details of the deal at a news conference later on Thursday.

Earlier, Sheikh Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's deputy leader, said the group would "return things to normal" after the government reversed decisions that had triggered the conflict.

The roadblocks, including barricades on the airport road, are also expected to be lifted on Thursday.

The row has paralysed much of government and left Lebanon with no president since November.

Regional struggle

Analysts believe that behind the dispute is a regional struggle for influence between Syria, which backs the opposition, and Saudi Arabia, which supports the ruling coalition.

Any deal would likely result in General Michel Suleiman, the army commander, being elected president.

The US has blamed the trouble in Lebanon on Iran, Syria and Hezbollah.

Iran blames the US for the violence which erupted after government action to outlaw a communications network vital to Hezbollah's military and security wings.

The ruling coalition accuses the opposition of trying to restore Syrian control of Lebanon and secure a stronger foothold for Iran in the country.

Syria dominated Lebanon until 2005, when the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, the late prime minister, triggered international pressure that forced it to end its military presence after nearly three decades and plunged Lebanon into crisis.

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