Arab rivals urge Lebanese unity

A warming of Saudi-Syria relations could have wide implications

Syria and Saudi Arabia have jointly called for a national unity government to be formed in Lebanon to end the continuing political stalemate there.

The announcement was made after Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a reconciliation summit in Damascus.

The Saudis back the pro-Western parliament majority in Lebanon and the Syrians the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Correspondents say regional power politics have so far blocked a deal.

Syria's official news agency said the two sides "affirmed the importance of reaching consensus in Lebanon and finding points of agreement through the formation of a national unity government as basis for the stability".

Parliament majority leader Saad Hariri has been trying to form a new government since June without success.

Efforts have broken down mainly over disagreements about the make-up of the cabinet.

In recent years, tense political rivalries in Lebanon have resulted in occasional bouts of deadly factional fighting, but calm has largely been restored by the Doha agreement in May 2008.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says there is a widespread belief that improved Saudi-Syrian ties will encourage the rapid formation of the new Lebanese government, with predictions that it could happen as early as the end of next week.

They could also encourage continuing efforts to bring about inter-Palestinian reconciliation, our correspondent says.