The Arab League has made progress toward solving the political crisis in Lebanon, although it has yet to achieve a breakthrough, the league's Secretary General Amr Moussa said yesterday.

"We're advancing step by step, but I cannot say at this stage whether I am optimistic or pessimistic, and prefer to keep details away from the media," Moussa said after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"My talks in Damascus were totally positive... It is important that I go to Riyadh," he said.

Moussa is seeking agreement on implementing an Arab plan to set up a power-sharing government which would balance the competing demands of military and political group Hezbollah and those of the anti-Syrian majority group led by Saad al-Hariri. Hezbollah is backed by Iran and Syria, while Hariri has the support of the United States and its ally, Saudi Arabia. The rival Lebanese sides have been at loggerheads for more than a year, creating the worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

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