Arab League says Lebanon talks good, no deal yet

BEIRUT, Dec 13 (Reuters) Arab League talks to defuse a political crisis in Lebanon have made progress but not reached a deal, League officials said today.

Senior League official Hesham Youssef told Reuters the mediators had an ''extremely positive'' meeting yesterday with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, whose powerful group is leading opposition to the Beirut government.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa arrived in Beirut yesterday. He has met leaders on both sides and said after talks today with Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun that there had been progress.

Youssef, a senior aide to Moussa, said: ''Responses are so far encouraging, but we haven't reached a conclusive outcome as of yet.'' Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, and other opposition factions want veto power in the cabinet of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who is supported by the United States.

The opposition have declared Siniora's government illegitimate and have been staging a round-the-clock protest in central Beirut since December 1 to press their demands.

The League is pushing for a deal based on a number of contentious issues, namely the shape of the cabinet, early presidential and parliamentary elections, and passage of a law setting up an international court to try suspected killers of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

''We are awaiting responses from key political forces,'' Youssef said. ''We're hopeful that it will be a quick process because the situation is extremely tense. I am hopeful.'' Reuters BDP GC1757