Arab mediators on Tuesday extended a deadline for rival Lebanese parties to agree on one of two proposals presented to end the political crisis, amid talks in Qatar. Lebanese leaders are yet to respond to the proposals and one side had asked for more time, Ahmad Abdullah al-Mahmood, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told reporters. "The committee approved giving until tomorrow [Wednesday]," he said, according to Reuters. "We hope that the two sides agree on one of these proposals," Mahmood told reporters, reading from a statement.
The talks earlier suffered a set-back after the opposition rebuffed a Qatari plan to delay discussion on a proposed electoral law and the election of a president. The opposition refused to delay discussions on the electoral law, suggesting that talks continue in Beirut.
The two sides have agreed on General Michel Suleiman as a consensus candidate to succeed Emile Lahoud.
