After intensive consultations, endeavors to reach solution:

Arab foreign ministers reiterate Arab initiative on Lebanon

Moussa warns in report against internationalization of Lebanese crisis

Mission to reach solution about representation in national unity govt. left for Moussa's efforts

Ministers consider Gaza disastrous area, hold Israel fully responsible for deterioration, back Mubarak's proposal for dialogue among Palestinians

Bloody unrest, attacks leave casualties in Beirut

The Arab Foreign Ministers concluded an extraordinary meeting in Cairo by reviewing a report submitted by the Arab League's Secretary General Amr Moussa on his recent mission in Lebanon.

The delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the meeting was led by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister.

The Arab Foreign Ministers voiced concern about the continuation of the Lebanese crisis and its serious repercussions on the security and stability of Lebanon.

The Arab Foreign Ministers adopted the following resolutions:

Firstly: Confirmation of the Arab unanimity as regards commitment to the articles of the Arab initiative in words and contents and determination to continue efforts for the implementation of the initiative.

Secondly: Lauding the efforts exerted by the Arab League's Secretary General and urging the Lebanese parties to positively respond to his efforts and continue the meetings which began between the leaders of majority and opposition at the invitation of the Secretary General for carrying out the articles of this integrated initiative and its call for electing Michael Suleiman as President of Lebanon at the specified date of February 11, 2008, and to conduct the required consultations for reaching an agreement on the bases for the formation of the government of the national unity as well as starting works for formulating a new law for the elections after the formation of the government.

Thirdly: the Secretary General will tackle the issue of representation at the government level with the concerned parties at a meeting of all Lebanese parties, and extending support to the efforts of the Secretary General in assisting the concerned parties to reach an accepted solution.

Fourthly: In the light of the differences being witnessed by Lebanon, the Arab Foreign Ministers call on all political powers in Lebanon to start from the Major elements of the ministerial statement of the current government for reaching an agreement on the general trends of the upcoming government.

Fifthly: Reviewing the mutual guarantees among the Lebanese parties for confidence- building including an understanding on the continuation of the government of the national unity.

Sixthly: Warning against tension in the street and escalation of media campaigns and calling on all parties to practice self-restraint so as to avoid sedition and end tensions in a manner that helps in carrying out the Arab Initiative in a positive environment.

Seventhly: The sessions of the Arab League's Ministerial Council will remain open for following up any developments.

On the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Arab Foreign Ministers adopted the following resolutions:

Firstly: Holding Israel, in its capacity as the occupying force, responsible for the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and calling it to immediately terminate its aggressive practices against the civilians and ending the siege policy and collective punishments as well as opening the passages and allowing the arrival of the basic materials and all requirements of the Palestinian people. They called for removal of the barriers made by Israel in the west bank in a manner that facilitates the movement of the individual and commodities.

Secondly: Israel, in its capacity as the occupying force, will bear legal and humanitarian responsibility in line with the international law towards the Palestinians and assume the responsibility to continue to ensure the availability of the basic requirements of the Palestinians in all Palestinian territories including the Gaza strip. The Arab Foreign Ministers also rejected any Israeli allegations which say that it is no longer responsible about the strip after its withdrawal from it.

Thirdly: Calling for immediate removal of the existing siege on Gaza and welcoming the decision of the UN human rights council in this respect and enabling the civilians to make available their requirements.

Fourthly: Calling on the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibility as regards ending the aggression and removal of the siege in Gaza and opening of the passages, and protection of its inhabitants and guarantee of their rights in line with the international law.

Fifthly: Calling ton the concerned parties to resume work in line with the internationally agreed arrangements to guarantee the re-operation of all passages of Gaza including Rafah passage, and welcoming the announcement of the Palestinian authority to shoulder its responsibility at all passages of Gaza.

Sixthly: Considering Gaza as a disastrous area and calling all the countries and Arab and international institutions and organizations of the civil community to extend the humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.

Seventhly: Calling on the Arab countries to extend further assistance to the Palestinians and coordination with Egypt in extending humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Eighthly: Lauding the efforts of Egyptian government and people to ease the sufferings of the Palestinians and supporting the efforts of the Egyptian government to find a solution to the current humanitarian crisis in a manner that allows the return of all Palestinians to their houses in Gaza as soon as possible.

Ninthly: Supporting the invitation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to the Palestinian parties to resume national dialogue under the patronage of Egypt, and calling on the Palestinian parties to end their differences and resume internal dialogue in a manner that maintains the national unity and preserves the higher interests and enables the legitimate authority to practice its role in the Gaza strip as soon as possible.

Tenthly: Asking the Secretary General to conduct urgent contacts with all effective international parties to end the aggression, and follow up the implementation of this decision.

Moreover, the Arab League Ministerial Council, in its session dedicated to discussing the situation in Lebanon, expressed deep concern over the continued assassinations and "terrorist" bombings that have recently claimed the life of Maj. Wassam Eid, his escort and a number of innocent civilians.

The council severely condemned in a statement such a "heinous" crime that only "aimed to destabilize security in Lebanon," urging all parties to cooperate and observe self-restraint to fend off schism and avoid bringing tension to the street.

Protesting marches in Lebanon, sponsored by the Lebanese opposition powers, went out of control, causing part of the Lebanese areas to sink into chaos, particularly in the south, Bekaa and part of the capital Beirut after six people were shot down and more than 30 others, including a number of Lebanese army soldiers, wounded.

In his report, Moussa said he had tabled a proposal on the formation of a Lebanese government on a base of 13 ministers for the majority bloc, 10 for the opposition and seven to be picked by the president of the republic.

He said the majority bloc agreed to the proposal in principle but the opposition believed that a 10+10+10 formula, or one-third of portfolios, has to be endorsed, noting Syria was for the one-third formula on the grounds that it would realize the required balance among the parties in Lebanon.