Suleiman Meets Lebanese Political Leaders in Effort to Break Deadlock

President Michel Suleiman on Thursday launched a fresh effort to break the Government deadlock.

He kicked off talks by meeting separately Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun.

Beirut newspapers said Suleiman will launch a new round of consultations with Lebanese political leaders in a bid to reach consensus on the current crisis.

Cabinet meetings and national dialogue sessions over a defense strategy remain stalled over two issues – false witnesses and an indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that will reportedly implicate Hizbullah members in the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

An-Nahar daily, however, said the disputes were moving toward a settlement.

It said Cabinet is likely to convene "given that contacts between the two political camps did not stop."

Ministerial sources told An-Nahar that Suleiman's efforts are likely to keep up with the Syrian-Saudi initiative.

As-Safir newspaper, for its part, said Suleiman will hold talks with leaders involved in national dialogue to solicit their views on ways out of the current crisis.

It said Suleiman on Thursday will meet in addition to Aoun anand Gemayel, Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh.

As-Safir said Suleiman will resume talks with other Lebanese political leaders in the coming days.