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Tehran-Riyadh initiative on sectarian strife

Atul Aneja

Sunni-Shia clashes in the region

PHOTO: AP

CONFLICT-TORN: Lebanese army soldiers try to stop Opposition activists (wearing workers' helmets) from crossing into a pro-Government Sunni area near Beirut University on Thursday.

DUBAI: Regional heavyweights Iran and Saudi Arabia have begun an active dialogue to ease sectarian tensions in Lebanon and Iraq.

The head of Saudi Arabia's National Security Council, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, visited Tehran on Thursday for talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani. Prince Bandar handed over a letter for his hosts from the Saudi monarch, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

Riyadh has substantial influence among the region's Sunni community while Iran exercises leadership within West Asia's Shia fold. Analysts say growing clashes in the region, especially Iraq and Lebanon, have triggered an active dialogue between the two sides.

Iran's Fars news agency quoting Lebanese sources said the two officials were working on an agreement that would end the Lebanese crisis. Their dialogue, which followed the killing of three persons on Thursday in Beirut during sectarian clashes, revolved around two issues. First, they discussed the formation of a national unity government, where the Shia militant group, Hizbollah would have a greater say. The two also strived for an understanding on U.N.-backed court that would try suspects in the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.

Observers say Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Lebanon, Abdul Aziz Khoja, has been involved in the preparation of a draft agreement along with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Shibani.

At a press conference in Tehran with Mr. Larijani on Thursday, Prince Bandar said: "In talks we held today, we discussed the issues of the region, among them Iraq and Lebanon."

He added that Foreign Ministers of the two countries would now pursue the "issues and agreements that were reached.'' Prior to this meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki had over phone discussed the possibility of holding a ministerial meeting of Iraq's neighbours in Baghdad.

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