Talks among Lebanon's political groups on the formation of a national unity government had been postponed for one week till next Monday, or Nov. 6, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Sunday.

The meeting was postponed as Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, former President Amin Gemayel and parliament's majority leader Saad Hariri would be absent for travel obligations, local newspaper An-Nahar quoted a statement by Berri's office as saying. "The consultations are delayed until Nov. 6 because of the absence of several leaders," Berri said in the statement.

Berri, a Shiite Muslim leader, had invited leaders from Lebanon's bickering political groups to hold talks on Oct. 30 to discuss forming a national unity government and a new election law to prevent political tension from degenerating into street clashes between rival camps.

The dialogue, launched in early March, was last scheduled for July 25. But the outbreak of the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah conflict on July 12 has prevented the resumption of the talks.

The thorny issue aimed at resolving Hezbollah's right to keep its weapons was last tackled by the rival leaders before the discussions were adjourned.

Pro-Syrian groups, led by Hezbollah, have so far rejected a UN Security Council demand to disarm and calls from within Lebanon to merge their fighters with the regular army.

Hezbollah and its allies have been demanding a new government since the one-month conflict ended in August. It has also proposed a defense strategy for Lebanon in face of a potential threat from Israel.

But members of the Lebanese parliament majority, or March 14 Forces, maintain that any defense strategy should keep decisions to "protect Lebanon" in the hands of the state and its regular army.

Source: Xinhua