Time shown on the left is the local time in Beirut, Lebanon

At one point there was hope that an agreement was imminent and MP Michel Murr promised that white smoke will come out from the stacks of the Sheraton . No white smoke was seen yesterday, the Lebanese are hoping today is the day

00:13 "OTV": Salim Aoun confirms that the opposition has agreed to the formula agreed by the Quartet committee on the electoral division of Beirut, pointing out that all are waiting for pro-government forces' response

23:52 Hassan Yaqub told LBC:" There are a lot of issues and ideas being discussed and we are trying hard not to return to Lebanon without a solution to the crisis

22:55 There are unconfirmed reports that the four-member committee appointed by the Arab Ministerial committee has come up with a solution to the division of Beirut electoral region by dividing it into 3 districts of 4, 6 and 9 parliamentary seats

21:55 Gen. Aoun: We have given our best possible offers to reach a solution and the ball is now in the court of the ruling majority. We gave significant concessions in 1989 for the sake of the Taif agreement which led us to problems. Politics is the art of the possibilities and rejection of the unacceptabilities

21:50 The committee of six which is responsible for discussing the election law is currently meeting . The committee includes MP George Adwan , MP Akram Shehayyeb and former MP Ghattas Khoury as representatives of the March 14 alliance , and MPs Ali Hassan Khalil Gibran Bassil and Hagob Pakradonian as representatives of the opposition.

21:30 - signs of hope emerge from a meeting between Qatar FM and Saad Hariri in which they were discussing the Beirut electoral district

21:10 former MP Ghattas Khoury: No elections could be held unless the state had exclusive control over the weapons in Lebanon. Khoury is participating in the Doha dialogue talks as a key member of the March 14 ruling majority

20:46 NBN: MP Ali Hassan Khalil said, after a meeting of the Quartet Committee which was discussing the electoral law on the search for the election law : We have greater opportunities for a solution after the great efforts of the Arab Ministerial committee and we will not return without an agreement

20:40 The shooting in Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp this afternoon between the Saadi family which is a Fatah supporter Fatah and the family Qablawi which is closely associated with the Islamist groups resulted in the wounding of one member of the Saadi family who was taken to hospital inside the camp

20:08 Gemayel told "new TV": the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not hide its position on Lebanon and supported the Arab initiative and has been influential in mediating with some groups to go in the direction of the dialogue . What matters is important is to arrive at a balanced solution because we need a solid truce that must be based on strengthening the Lebanese system

19:30 The Quartet Committee that was established by the Arab Committee and which is composed of 2 representatives each from the government loyalists and the is meeting to discuss discuss the proposals of the Arab committee

19:10 former PM Najib Mikati met with US ambassador Sison to discuss the situation in Lebanon and the region

17:58 OTV: Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri complained to the Qatari mediators about the role that the General Secretary of the Arab League Amr Moussa played in the Doha dialogue.

17:37 Future TV: Three cars carrying Hezbollah gunmen were intercepted by the residents of Majdal Aanjar at the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria

17:35 : Minister Safadi has reservations about the electoral law proposed by the Arab Ministerial committee

17:30 MP Hussein Ali Hassan Khalil said the opposition considers the two proposals by the Arab Ministerial committee as non-existing.

17:03 Geagea told Loubnan Al-Horr radio: The arms of Hezbollah is a vital and important issue. We have concentrated all our efforts on this subject and the Arab Ministerial Committee has promised us good news.

16:56 : Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem calls for the formation of a special committee of 4 , tow from the opposition and two from the government loyalists to study the proposals and come up with a recommendation for an agreement

16:40 "OTV": the first proposal deals with the Election of President and the formation of a Government of 3 - 11 - 16 ministers and approval of the election law later by the parliament and the second proposal: the election of President and the formation of a Government 3 - 11 - 16 ministers and an electoral based on the division of Beirut to 3 districts 0f 7 - 7 and 5 Mps

16:38 "or TV": the opposition confirms receiving the Qatar proposals
16:32 "or TV": Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem revises the proposals hands them over to the opposition

16:26 MP Hassan Yaakoub told Al-Jazeera: Neither the opposition nor the majority gave their complete consent to the proposals, and what is happening now is new discussions revolving around these two proposals in an attempt to find a solution that satisfies both sides.

16:22 : The opposition refused the two proposals suggested by the Arab Ministerial committee to solve the crisis. Opposition leaders are convening now to discuss their options for the next phase after they return to Beirut.

16:10 "or TV": Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem is meeting with Gen. Aoun at the "Sheraton"

16:02 Jaloul told Arabiyyeh TV: we are living in Lebanon the same atmosphere that preceded the assassination of Lebanon's prime minister rafik Hariri and that is why we are calling on Hezbollah to take its weapons from Beirut

Or MTV at 16:00: end of the meeting between Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Speaker Berri and Hezbollah delegation

15:55 al Arabiyyeh TV: The pro-government group seems satisfied with the ministerial committee proposals , but not the opposition , which is insisting on discussing the election law now

15:26 Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said the Beirut election constituencies are the focal point of difference with the majority. He accused the majority of wanting to win the 2009 elections in Beirut in May 2008 in Qatar

15:20 MP Antoine Zahra told LBC : the Beirut election constituencies are the focal point of difference with the Hezbollah-led opposition.

15:19 or TV: the opposition denies receiving any proposals from the committee and also denied requesting any time to respond

15:06 LBC: pro-government March 14 alliance is now holding a meeting

15:02 MP Pakradonian tells "LBC": "the division of Beirut into three electoral districts of 5 , 7 and 7 MPs in per district is rejected by the opposition because it does not take into account the sectarian balances in Beirut. The optimal distributions is the electoral districts of the 1960 elections law ." The opposition has been pushing for the 1960 law ever since the subject came up

14:50 The Arab Committee set Wednesday as a deadline for Lebanese leaders to agree on a settlement.

14:40 Ahmad Bin Abdallah al-Mahmoud, Qatari state minister for Foreign Affairs, said the Arab Committee proposed two settlements so that Lebanese leaders would chose one of them. The details of the proposals were not revealed but the Qatari minister , said both parties asked for some for some time to discuss the proposals and both promised to respond by Wednesday The committee will announce later tonight the time of tomorrow's press conference.The press conference will be to announce the results of the dialogue and the efforts made by the committee.

14: 35 MP Hussein Hajj Hassan: We are willing to stay here till the end of the dialogue

14: 30 : MP Walid Jumblatt: We won't leave Doha before an agreement is reached

14:07 Arab diplomatic sources to NOW Lebanon: Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa is unhappy with the present situation and has expressed his wish to hold a press conference to uncover the party responsible for obstructing the Arab efforts over Lebanon.

14: Minister Sarkis: Hezbollah was the biggest loser from last week's violence . Not only the Lebanese are now scared about Hezbollah arms , but all the Arabs are scared too

13:48pm An opposition source tells NBN: The opposition refuses to return to Beirut until an agreement is reached.

13:40pm Qatari prime minister arrives at Sheraton hotel Doha, the venue of the dialogue discussions to meet with leaders from both the majority and the opposition ahead of the expected press conference.

13:34 MP Hassan Khalil to New TV: The important thing now is to reassure the Lebanese that we are heading toward an agreement regardless of the few remaining issues. The monumental efforts being made by the Qatari mediators can help solve the remaining issues and will allow us to agree on electing a president, forming a unity cabinet and agreeing on a new electoral law.

13: 23 : Gemayel tells Voice of Lebanon: "Hezbollah should reconsider its Lebanese national strategy"

13:05 MP Misbah Ahdab to the Al-Hurra news channel: Any agreement that does not involve Hezbollah's arms is not a complete deal.

12:55pm Qatari PM may reveal at a press conference a draft accord that calls for immediate election of Gen. Suleiman, agreement on formation of the government on a 16-11-3 formula and finally approval of an amended 1960 electoral law.

12:39 Minister Ahmad Fatfat to the Future News Channel: There are continuous attempts by the opposition to obstruct any solution, because they want to take advantage of their military victory in Beirut to achieve political gains. They want one-third of the cabinet, an electoral law that includes dividing Beirut, and for Hezbollah's weapons not to be mentioned, which is something we will never accept.

12:38 Future News Channel: The main lines of the Qatari suggestion are the immediate election of a president; the establishment of a government that includes 16 ministers for the pro-government party, 11 for the opposition and three for the president; and the adoption of an electoral law based on the 1960 law, which takes into consideration the Boutros Committee's suggestions.

12:19 Sources to ANB: The Qatari PM's press conference this afternoon will be crucial in announcing whether the Doha national dialogue was a success or a failure.

11:49 MP Hagop Pakradounian to ANB: We are willing to remain in Doha until we reach an agreement that satisfies everyone and saves the country. Several ideas have been proposed, and the doors to a solution are open, but the important thing is that no side be marginalized.

11:46 MP Antoine Zahra to LBC:

11:44 MP Michel Pharaoun to Al-Manar: The statement released by the opposition yesterday shocked the Arab Committee, and there are continuous attempts to involve the Armenian sect in the maze of the electoral law, which is the main point of disagreement.

11:28 Voice of Lebanon radio station: Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa is convening with MP Saad Hariri in his room in Qatar to discuss the issue of Hezbollah's arms and guarantees to prevent a recurrence of last week's violence.

11:17 MP Mohammad Qabbani to Al-Mustaqbal daily: Someone is trying to overtake us in Beirut, where we are the majority, which we refuse. No one can translate military success into a political victory, and regardless of what happened in Beirut, it will always be ours.

11:14 Nabil De Freij to New TV: The problem is bigger than the issue of dividing Beirut. The real problem is that there are some people who want to forget what happened last week and the 100 people who were killed. Our goal is to guarantee that what happened recently on the streets will not happen again, and I can assure that MP Hariri was open to all the formulas suggested regarding the electoral law.

11:07 A Lebanese source who is participating in the Doha conference told AFP that intensive contacts are underway between Lebanese factions under Qatari mediation so as to avoid failure, hours ahead of the 2:00 p.m. press conference between the Qatari prime minister and the Arab League secretary general.

11:03 Bassil: Hariri has agreed on giving a small electoral constituency to the Christians in Beirut but is taking over other seats. Beirut is not the capital of the Hariri family, but is the capital for all Lebanese.

11:00 Gebran Bassil to LBC: There is a scandal concerning the six-party committee over the electoral law that did not convene two days ago, and when it comes to the moment of truth, there has been an evasion in dealing with the issues, and the electoral law can only be implemented clearly and transparently.

10:25 MP Yaghia Gergian to Al-Jazeera: The Armenian sect is not the problem as it is currently being portrayed in Qatar, since some politicians are using it as a cover for their political agendas.

08:45 The Qatari prime minister and Arab League secretary general will hold a joint press conference today at 2:00 p.m. to talk about the Doha dialogue, its results and the obstacles facing an agreement.

Tags: Breaking News, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Qatar, source: Naharnet, source: Now Lebanon, Ya Libnan