"We failed to reach an agreement or understanding and consequently we left (the talks)," said legislator Butros Harb.

 Other politicians tried to downplay the breakup of the talks. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, for instance, acknowledged the dialogue had failed to reach any agreement but suggested the talks would resume at a later stage. "We want to continue consultations until the last minute," he said.

 Saturday’s session was the fourth this week aimed at solving differences between Lebanon’s bickering politicians.

 The anti-Syrian March 14 Camp denied Saturday that it had accepted giving Hizbullah and its allies effective veto power over key decisions in the cabinet in exchange for the opponents approving the international tribunal’s draft in Hariri’s murder.

© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)