Time shown on the left is the local time in Beirut, Lebanon
22:00 one soldier from the Malaysian contingent of UNIFIL peacekeepers was killed and six others wounded in a car accident in Wadi el Hugair, south Lebanon
21:45 Emir Qatar Sheikh Hamad announced the adjournment of the meeting to half past ten ( Doha time ) tomorrow morning
21:36 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa said during the opening of the dialogue: "it is our duty to stand by and assist Lebanon"
21:26 Emir of Qatar sits with the Lebanese leaders at the table of dialogue
21:24 A side meeting, lasting few minutes between General Aoun, Arab League chief Moussa and the Emir of Qatar
21:10 The Lebanese politicians and the Qatari Emir enter the hall to start first sessions of the dialogue talks
21:08pm Premier Fouad Siniora called off the scheduled talks with U.S. President George Bush in Egypt Sunday due to his involvement in the Doha dialogue talks.
21:05 "Al Jazeera TV": The Emir of Qatar will open the Lebanese national dialogue sessions in Doha
20:55 The private plane carrying Hariri and Siniora and the accompanying delegation arrives in Doha , Qatar
20:46 the plane carrying the Arab Ministerial delegation and some of the Lebanese leaderships arrives at Doha airport
20:33 The Lebanese delegation arrives in Doha, Qatar.
19:18 Saudi Arabia FM Saud Al-Faisal in a live press conference welcomed the efforts of the Arab Ministerial Committee, reaffirmed Saudi commitment to the Taif Accord and denounced the use of arms to attain political ends.
19:18 Saud Al-Faisal: We support the principles of the Lebanese constitutional and the Arab initiative, which calls for the election of the compromise candidate Army Commander General Michel Suleiman as president, the formation of a national-unity government, and the adoption of a new electoral law.
17:52 Flights transporting Lebanese leaders to Qatar take off
17:48 Samir Geagea from the airport : Hezbollah must lower their expectations, for the dialogue is not based on political balances - the main point is the relation of Hezbollah to the state.
17:47 Speaker Nabih Berri, arrived at the airport to board plane that is bound for Doha
17:40 FPM leader Michel Aoun called for the formation of an interim government to lead the nation if the Doha talks failed to achieve a settlement.
17:30 Boarding flights to Qatar: Fouad Siniora, Walid Jumblatt, Nabih Berri, Samir Geagea, Michel Aoun, Saad Hariri, Michel Murr, Amr Moussa, Akram Shohayeb, Ghassan Tueni, Ghazi Aridi, Wael Abou Faour, Elias Skaff, Fawzi Salloukh, Mohammed Raad
17:33 MP Walid Jumblatt boarded the plane. He will be accompanied by members of the Arab delegation
17:26 Ministers Hamadeh , Tohme , Safadi and Salloukh head to the plane which will take off at the sixth pm to Qatar
17:26 MP Tueni is preparing to board the plane leaving for Qatar
17:24 Geagea and MP Adwan boarding the plane to Qatar
17:24 Former president Amin Gemayel and MP Boutros Harb boarded the plane leaving for Qatar
17:23 MP Elias Skaff was boarding the plane to leaving for Doha
17:23 MP Michel Murr was boarding the plane to Qatar
17:22 Gen. Michel Aoun and members of the delegation accompanying him boarded the plane carrying the Lebanese delegation to Qatar
17:20 Hezbollah's Resistance Bloc headed by MP Mohammed Raad boarded the plane carrying the Lebanese delegation to Qatar
17:20 The Lebanese delegations headed for Qatar begin boarding at the Beirut International Airport.
17:15 MP Saad Hariri left the airport on board of his private jet with his accompanying delegation
16:10 Saad Hariri discusses current developments with the French Charge d'affaires Andre Baran
15:45 The American University of Beirut announced that classes will resume on Monday, March 19
15:40 Salim Aoun told Al-Manar: You can not talk now about optimism or pessimism will try every effort to reach a solution which has been the aim of the opposition all along . We hope the politicians will not take the dispute to their constituencies and spread more hate among the people. Lets hope we will reach an agreement and end the pain we have been through.
15:15 Egypt: Resolving the crisis in Lebanon should take into account the balance among all sects and political forces, while maintaining their respective interests in the Lebanese composition
15:01 National Agency: the Lebanese army returned to the future Movement the 2 centers that were placed in its custody in the city of Sidon
14:45 speaker Berri Contacts Shiite Sheikh Kabalan, and Shiite sheikh Fadlallah and former PMs Selim Al-Hoss , Omar Karami and Najib Miqati
14:35 Airport: the plane that will transport the Arab League ministerial delegation to Doha is on the runway of the airport awaiting the departure of the delegation to Qatar and there are conflicting reports about the timing of the take off to Doha
13:35 Voice of Lebanon: reported the following on the make up of some of the groups that will be heading to Doha for the dialogue talks
- Speaker Nabih Berri MP will be accompanied by MP Ali Hassan Khalil and MP Samir Azar
- Prime Minister Fouad Siniora will be accompanied by Ministers Tareq Mitri, Khaled Qabbani, Michel Faroun & Ahmed Fatfat
- MP Saad Hariri will be accompanied by the MP Bassem Sabaa and former MP Ghattas Khoury
- MP Walid Jumblatt will be accompanied by Minister Marwan Hamadeh
- Hezbollah will be represented by resigned minister Mohammad Fneish and MP Mohammad Raad
11:55 MP Walid Jumblatt touring the Chouf Mountains tells reporters: "Only dialogue will solve problems, not weapons"
11:38 Kataeb leader and former President Amin Gemayel tells LBC Television: "The key to any solution is understanding the principle of establishing the state. Only the state should have sovereignty and no other authority should have any sovereignty at the expense of the state . If we cannot reach an understanding of this relationship between the state and "Hezbollah" we will remain where we are today. During the dialogue talks this is what I will be concentrating on and in particular the subject of the Hezbollah weapon, which is the basis of the mistrust. Spoke with Dr. Geagea today and we are in agreement on many points and there are other contacts underway to develop the points that will be raised during the dialogue talks."
11:22 Moussa: "We don't want to interfere in the details of the establishment of the government, because this is the president's job through mandatory consultations with MPs. We are discussing a national-unity government and facilitating its establishment, the details of which should be agreed upon according to the constitutional framework."
11:21 Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa tells LBC Television: "Tonight, dialogue will start, and I expect serious work pushing the situation forward, because what has been achieved so far is not enough. There are commitments that have been respected, and we are making efforts over the implementation of the Arab initiative and the election of consensus candidate General Michel Suleiman as president."
11:02 Treasury Minister Jihad Azour: There is a need to return to government institutions.
10:23 The Voice of Lebanon radio station: People are gathered on the airport road for a peaceful demonstration and are hoisting banners addressed to Lebanese politicians participating in the dialogue in Qatar that read, "If you won't agree, don't return."
10:20 Mouallem: Syria has advised the Arab Ministerial Committee not to leave Lebanon until they reach an agreement.
10:18 MP Qabbani: The results of the meeting are inconclusive. But what is certain is that we are done with this violent and bloody phase. There has been an agreement to return to dialogue, which we consider a step forward.
10:17 MP Mohammed Qabbani to the Future News Channel: I hope that what happened, the violence and the bloodshed, are a lesson to those who have committed not to return to it. This bloody lesson has proven that force might not lead to its expected objectives.
09:27 Talal Arslan: I thank Walid Bek [Jumblatt] for the commissioning he gave me. I have removed the black ghost from the Mountain thanks to the wisdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and MP Walid Jumblatt.
09:26 MP Walid Jumblatt is currently meeting with former MP Talal Arslan at his house in Khaldeh.
09:25 Treasury Minister Jihad Azour interviewed by the Voice of Lebanon radio station:
09:16 MP Anwar Khalil interviewed by the Voice of Lebanon radio station:
07:57 Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khoja to the Voice of Lebanon radio station: The Arab Ministerial Committee was successful, and we hope that a president is elected, a government established and a new electoral law adopted. I think this will be final and complete.
07:54 Phalange party (Kataeb) Vice President Salim Sayegh: The paper presented by the Arab Ministerial Committee is a beginning to rebuilding the state. We will focus on rebuilding trust between the Lebanese. The capital has been occupied, and we are focusing our efforts on guarantees that [the opposition] will never again turn its weapons inward.
07:52 Education Minister Khalid Qabbani to the Voice of Lebanon radio station: It is normal that schools and universities are reopening today. We will thoroughly go over the postponement of the official exams and make a decision in this regard soon. I hope that school and university directors will take the necessary measures to contain what has happened.
00:10 Al Mustaqbal News: A man from the Shaaban family was beaten and hit at his head by gunmen when he tried to inspect his house for damage, following the opening of the road that was closed by Hezbollah.
00:07 Al Mustaqbal News: Syrian intelligence arrested Mohammed Abdul Razak and Emad Abdallah in the area between Lebanon and Syria . Both are residents of Majdal Anjar
00:00 French FM Bernard Kouchner: France calls on all parties to exert all efforts necessary during the dialogue discussions that will start in Doha on Friday to reach an agreement quickly on the presidential elections , forming a national unity government and agreeing on a new electoral law
Thursday Evening May 15, 2008
23:48 Kanaan: There are many issues that still need to be ironed out and the Free Patriotic Movement will participate in the Doha negotiations
23:30 Aboul Gheit: It is encouraging and positive that the Lebanese agreed to restore things to what it was before the fifth of May and end armed manifestations in all its forms
23:15 Christian Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir discussed the current situation in Lebanon with UN chief Ban Ki-Moon at the UN headquarters in New York city
23:53 OTV: immediately after the announcement of the agreement by the Arab league delegation at the Phoenicia Hotel, Army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman contacted General Michel Aoun, thanking him for his efforts in resolving the crisis and for agreeing to the text of the agreement.
According to inside sources, Aoun's disagreement on the final text of the agreement delayed the announcement for more than 1 hour. Aoun disapproved of mentioning Michel Suleiman as the only presidential candidate and wanted this issue to remain open hoping that he could be the one agree on in Doha.
22:36 Geagea today discussed the Lebanese developments with the American ambassador Michelle Sison
22:24 Moussa tells Al Jazeera: progress in the Lebanese political crises will alleviate tension in the Arab arena, specially between Saudi Arabia and Syria both of which support the deal that was reached today
22:13 The port of Beirut will resume its normal operations Friday
Tags: Breaking News, Hezbollah, Lebanon, source: Now Lebanon, Ya Libnan
