High-level Lebanese talks in Qatar

Lawmaker Mohammed Raad, who heads Hezbollah's delegation in Qatar, defended the group keeping its arsenal, saying the weapons were meant to fight against Israel and "must not be touched," according to LBC.

Lebanon has had no president since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud's term ended in November.

The violence last week was triggered by government measures to rein in Hezbollah. The violence eventually forced the government to revoke the measures, giving Hezbollah an upper hand in its standoff with the government.

Subsequently, Qatari host Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani asked the two sides to stick for now to discussions on a national unity government. According to NNA, they set up a four-party committee to draft a new election law.

Saniora struck an upbeat note, saying Saturday's session showed "all parties are eager to reach an understanding that will lead to the beginning of a solution to this crisis," the private Voice of Lebanon Radio reported.

Washington and Saniora's faction have accused Iran and Syria of seeking to undermine the Lebanese government and Middle East stability, while Hezbollah accuses the prime minister and his allies in the anti-Syrian coalition of being America's servants.

The talks in Qatar are the first time top leaders from the Lebanese sides came face-to-face in the crisis. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who is in hiding fearing assassination by Israel, did not attend.

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Associated Press Writer Zeina Karam contributed to this report from Beirut.