Saad Hariri back in Lebanon as stalemate grips nation

Lebanon's caretaker prime minister returned to Beirut yesterday, saying dialogue was the only way out of the country's political crisis after a Hezbollah-led coalition toppled his western-backed government.

Saad Hariri has been trying to rally support in the US, France and Turkey since ministers allied to the Shi'ite militant group resigned on Wednesday, bringing down his government while he was in Washington meeting President Barack Obama.

"There is no alternative to dialogue," Mr Hariri said after meeting president Michel Suleiman.

"Between power and the dignity of my people and country, I choose the dignity of Lebanon and the Lebanese," he said.

The crisis is the climax of long-simmering tensions over the UN tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Mr Hariri's father, the former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The tribunal is widely expected to indict members of Hezbollah, which many fear could rekindle violence in the tiny nation plagued for decades by war and civil strife.

Hezbollah denounces the Netherlands-based tribunal as a conspiracy by the US and Israel and demanded Mr Hariri reject its findings even before they come out. But he insists on co- operating with the tribunal.

In an effort to ease tensions that some fear could ignite sectarian violence, the US embassy in Beirut urged all factions to "remain calm and exercise restraint at this critical time".

On his way back to Lebanon from Washington, Mr Hariri stopped in France and Turkey to try to rally support. Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday he would consult authorities in Iran, Syria and Qatar to seek a solution.