Breakthrough Hopes Low as Arab League Delegation Visits Beirut

An Arab League delegation led by Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki will visit Beirut Monday in a bid to resolve Lebanon's row with the Gulf countries, media reports said.

Senior sources meanwhile told the PSP's al-Anbaa news portal that the delegation is not expected to achieve a breakthrough due to "Hizbullah's inflexible stance, which is preventing (Information Minister George) Kordahi from bowing to the desire of (Prime Minister Najib) Miqati," who wants him to resign to "preserve Lebanon's Arab relations."

France, which supports Miqati and rejects the government's resignation, has meanwhile failed to ease the stern Saudi and Gulf stance on Lebanon, the sources added.

MP Ali Darwish of Miqati's parliamentary bloc for his part told al-Anbaa that "Miqati's behind-the-scenes domestic and foreign contacts" are what led to the Arab League delegation's visit to Lebanon.

The delegation will seek to "lower the levek of tension and start working for a settlement," Darwish added.