Talks to end Lebanon's political crisis suffered a setback yesterday after the Hizbollah-led opposition appeared to ignore proposals by Qatari mediators aimed at pulling the country back from the brink of civil war.

The Arab League intervened last week to end Lebanon's worst domestic fighting since the 1975-1990 civil war and pave the way for the Doha talks between the US-backed ruling coalition and the opposition to end an 18-month-old crisis.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani made proposals on Sunday on power-sharing in a new government and the rivals had been expected to hammer out a compromise over a new election law yesterday. Agreement on these points would pave the way for Parliament to elect army commander General Michel Suleiman as President, a post that has been vacant since November.

But a statement issued by opposition leaders after a meeting yesterday was short on detail and restated existing demands, disappointing the ruling camp and casting a pall over talks.