DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

Leaders of Lebanon's rival political factions have begun talks in Qatar aimed at resolving a dispute that has pushed the country to the brink of a new civil war. The meeting was brokered by the Arab League in an effort to end clashes between gunmen from the Shi'ite radical group Hezbollah and supporters of the government that left more than 60 people dead and dozens of others wounded. This has been the worst fighting Lebanon has seen since its 15-year-long civil war ended in 1990. The clashes were sparked by government attempts to sack the security chief at Beirut airport and ban Hezbollah's telephone network. The government has since backed down on the moves.