The “national dialogue conference” held in Beirut was abruptly adjourned until next week with no agreement on the key issues of the fate of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, disarming Hezbollah resistance fighters and ties with Syria.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who had called the talks, said they would resume on March 13. Berri said this would give leaders time to consult their groups and parties. He denied the delay was caused by remarks by anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who said in Washington the talks were stalled and called for Hezbollah to be disarmed.

But political sources said Jumblatt’s statements on Monday had cast a shadow over the Beirut conference and had drawn strong objections from Berri and Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, both Shiite leaders close to Syria.

The pro-Syrian camp at the talks had hoped to reach a deal that would allow Hezbollah to keep its weapons, despite a UN demand for the disarming of all militias in Lebanon.

The anti-Syrian coalition was seeking a consensus on ousting Lahoud. Lebanese leaders assembled last week in their broadest gathering since the 1975-90 civil war to debate issues that have paralyzed government and prolonged a political crisis.

Jumblatt, campaigning for Lahoud’s removal, said he was lobbying the United States to press Syria harder into accepting the exit of what he called its “puppet.” He said the anti-Syrian coalition had refused to accept a compromise that would have removed Lahoud but allowed Hezbollah to keep its arms for use against Israel.

Other anti-Syrian leaders had denied any such compromise had been discussed. The Druze leader said the coalition would hold mass rallies against Lahoud if the talks made no headway.

Parliament majority leader Saad Al-Hariri insisted the talks were not doomed. “The dialogue has not been buried. Come Monday and you will see that it will succeed and we will take decisions,” he told reporters. “The issues of the presidency and the weapons of the resistance (Hezbollah) were tackled very seriously as well as other issues,” he said.

“These comments are nothing new and are not the reason for the delay,” said Berri. “Some parties asked for a pause so they could consult with their leaders before taking definitive decisions. “This delay does not imply any breakdown in the conference — we’re simply taking some time out for reflection in order to reach an agreement.”

Saad also denied any setback in the talks. “As you will see, we are going to reach an agreement,” he insisted.

But Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television said the Druze leader’s outspoken comments had been a factor in the conference’s adjournment. “It seems that Jumblatt’s comments have had an impact on the meeting, forcing a reaction from those who are opposed to him,” the channel reported. (Agencies)