Leaders of rival Lebanese groups postponed Friday a national dialogue session until June 3, after the meeting drew a heated debate over the issue of Hezbollah's weapons.
The session which was already scheduled last month, grouped members of the ruling Western-backed majority and the Hezbolah-led opposition, dpa reported.
It also coincided with reports that Washington and Israel wereconcerned over reports that Syria was providing Hezbollah with Scud missiles.
The national dialogue, which was first launched in 2006, has been adjourned over and over again because of the thorny issue of Hezbollah's arms.
The Hezbollah-led opposition insisted on stopping debate regarding their arms at the dialogue table, arguing that "Lebanon has no alternative but the Resistance (Hezbollah) to defend the country."
Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad hinted at boycotting dialogue sessions if debate continued on Hezbollah arms rather than other political issues facing the country.
"Either we want a serious dialogue under the Defense Strategy topic that includes key aspects of military, security, political, media, cultural, social and economic, or we don't want a serious dialogue, but rather exchange rhetoric," Raad told the session.
"If this is the case, then we are not willing to continue to participate in the dialogue," Raad warned.
Christian Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, also a member of the majority, hit back, saying "we have the right to discuss the issue of weapons here" at the dialogue table.
"I tell you I am going to criticize the Resistance (Hezbollah) arms in every statement. This is our political right," Geagea said.
The Shiite militant group, which is backed by Syria and Iran, is the only faction that refused to surrender its weapons after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. It argues they are necessary to defend the country against Israeli aggression.
United Nations Resolution 1701, which ended 33-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in July 2006, called for disarming all militant groups, including Hezbollah, leaving only the Lebanese army in possession of any weapons.
In 2009 elections, Hezbollah won 13 seats in parliament. The Lebanese Shiite movement also has two ministers in Premier Saad Hariri's national unity cabinet. круглосуточно.
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