Lebanese opposition leaders meet

Aoun and Geagea fought each other in the Lebanese civil war

Two of Lebanon's opposition leaders, ex-army commander Michel Aoun and Christian warlord Samir Geagea, have met for the first time in 15 years.

The meeting took place in the capital, Beirut, where Mr Geagea has been in prison since 1994.

Mr Aoun, who recently returned to Lebanon from exile in France, called for Mr Geagea to be released.

Mr Aoun said they had buried their differences after fighting against each other in Lebanon's civil war.

The meeting came as anti-Syrian opposition groups prepare for parliamentary elections later this month, where they hope to make gains against candidates backing Syrian influence in Lebanon.

Mr Aoun denied that the purpose of his meeting with Mr Geagea was to secure an alliance for the elections, and said the meeting symbolised a new beginning.

"The page of the past cannot be partially folded. Either it is fully folded or it is not," he said after the hour-long meeting, which he described as emotional.

The two leaders fought each other for control of the Christian heartland in the final days of the 1975-90 Lebanese civil war.