Syria backs Arab initiative on Lebanon - Moussa

DAMASCUS, Dec 21 (Reuters) Arab League chief Amr Moussa said today he had won Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's support for his efforts to solve the crisis in Lebanon between Syrian-backed Hezbollah and the Western-supported government.

''Arab backing is crucial. I received assurances from the president of support for my efforts and the initiative I am carrying,'' Moussa said after meeting the Syrian leader.

Lebanese political sources say Moussa's plan provides for a unity government, a deadline on when consultations would start on a new president and a timetable for a new electoral law.

It also proposes a committee to review a law forming an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 killing of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. Syria has denied allegations by some Lebanese that it was behind the murder.

''I have come out of the meetings relieved. The Lebanon crisis involves local, regional and international factors. The most important thing is to save the Arab world from the catastrophic effects of disintegration,'' Moussa told reporters.

Assad, who has sharply criticised Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government, has put no public pressure on the Hezbollah-led opposition to abandon its demands for an expanded cabinet in which it would hold veto power.

Syria backs Shi'ite Hezbollah's view that Siniora's cabinet, dominated by Christians, Sunnis and Druze, is unrepresentative and that a national unity government must be formed, but says it is anxious to avoid any return to civil war in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has led peaceful street protests in central Beirut since Dec. 1. It has declared the government illegitimate and has raised its demands by demanding early parliamentary polls.

Moussa said there was a limit to how much influence foreign powers could exert on Lebanon's political players.

''There are national considerations at stake and the Lebanese themselves are responsible for them,'' he said.

Moussa, who met Lebanese leaders in Beirut yesterday, returned there after his talks with Assad for more discussions on the solution he has drafted.

Lebanon's anti-Syrian coalition government, which has a majority in parliament, says bowing to Hezbollah's demands would lead to greater Syrian and Iranian influence in the country.

Parliament normally sits for four years. The last elections took place in May and June 2005. Parliament has the task of electing a new president by the autumn of 2007 to replace Emile Lahoud, whose term was extended in 2004 at Syria's behest.

REUTERS SP KP1841