Mediators try to salvage Lebanon talks

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Arab mediators scrambled yesterday to salvage Lebanese crisis talks in Qatar, offering rival factions two proposals on how to end Lebanon's 18-month political deadlock. They gave the feuding camps a day to consider the proposals.

The talks follow an Arab League-mediated deal that got the Lebanese to end a week of violence, the worst since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war, and agree to hold negotiations in Doha on overcoming the crisis that has paralyzed the country.

Yesterday's move was seen as a final attempt by the Arab hosts after the negotiations teetered near collapse. The talks have so far focused on two key issues, a national unity government and the electoral law, that would also lead to the election of a new Lebanese president.