Lebanese talks seek to avert showdown over govt

BEIRUT, Nov 5 (Reuters) Rival Lebanese leaders begin a week of talks tomorrow on Hezbollah demands for a national unity government, in a last-ditch effort to defuse a crisis threatening to spill into the streets.

Political sources said chances the ''national consultations'' would result in a deal to form a new government were slim but did not rule out a compromise to expand the current Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

The United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Nations have all backed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's call for the talks. But Washington last week accused Syria, Iran and their ally Hezbollah of working to topple Siniora's government.

Damascus and Tehran denied the charge.

Hezbollah has led calls for a more representative government, with more opposition members, after what it saw as its victory in a war with Israel in July and August.

Such a government would go some way in redressing the balance of power in Lebanon, which swung in favour of an anti-Syrian coalition after last year's withdrawal of Syrian troops following the killing of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed last week to stage peaceful protests demanding fresh elections unless his anti-Syrian opponents, including the majority in Siniora's cabinet, agree to a new government by mid-November.

Such demonstrations and likely counter-demonstrations could degenerate into street clashes, leading to instability that would cripple prospects for recovery from the summer's devastating war.

''There are some positive signs, the first of which is that all leaders have agreed to attend the consultations and to discuss the demand for a government change,'' a senior politician allied with Hezbollah said.

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