Parliament majority leader MP Saad Hariri and Premier Fouad Siniora had left Beirut Airport aboard an executive jet, while leaders of both the opposition and majority boarded a Qatari jetliner.

Former president Amin Gemayel, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Progressive Socialist Party Leader Walid Jumblatt and MP Ghassan Tueni boarded the plane along with opposition member and parliament speaker Nabih Berri and his ally Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa also left for Doha along with the Lebanese leaders.

Geagea, talking to reporters prior to boarding the plane, said Hezbollah should "lower the level of its expectations because the results of the battles would not be reflected on the dialogue."

Aoun proposed the formation of an interim national unity cabinet to lead the nation of the Doha talks failed in reaching a settlement.

Hezbollah was represented by head of its parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was due to open the talks in a Doha hotel at 9:00 pm (1800 GMT).

The feuding Lebanese politicians agreed on Thursday to launch a dialogue as part of a six-point plan, following Arab League mediation led by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani.

Under the deal the rivals undertook "to shore up the authority of the Lebanese state throughout the country," to refrain from using weapons to further political aims and to remove militants from the streets.

It also called for the removal of roadblocks that paralyzed air traffic and closed major highways, and for the rivals to refrain from using language that could incite violence.

Life began returning to normal in Beirut on Friday as the port, businesses and many schools reopened.
The Lebanese stock market was upbeat about the possibility of a breakthrough and Soldire Shares surged to a record level, after rising over 12 % today

A group of disabled people, some bearing injuries from Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, gathered on the Beirut airport road bearing signs for the leaders: "If you don't agree, don't come back."

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