Lebanese factions agree to dialogue

Rival Lebanese groups have agreed to avoid armed confrontations to pave the way for dialogue. Arab mediators made the announcement in Beirut on Thursday.

The head of the Arab League mediation team says all Lebanese parties will attend an internal dialogue scheduled to open in Doha on Friday. The mediators hope the much awaited-dialogue will result in a deal that will defuse the country's political crisis and bring about stability.

The Hezbollah-led opposition has begun to remove a roadblock that has shut down Beirut airport for a week. The road block went up after the government fired a Hezbollah-linked airport security chief.