News In Brief
| Beirut
Lebanon open to ending Israeli pact to end turmoil
The Lebanese government said Wednesday it was willing to discuss cancellation of the six-month-old security accord with Israel if it would bring peace between Lebanon's Christian and Muslim factions. The accord called for security guarantees on Israel's northern border and more formalized relations between Lebanon and Israel.
Syria and several Lebanese factions are demanding abrogation of the accord in exchange for concessions at peace talks the government expects to begin within a week. President Amin Gemayel told his Cabinet the date for the first round of peace talks could be set soon if disagreement over where to hold it were resolved. Lebanon wants to meet in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, but Syria objects.
