Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in an interview published on Sunday that a settlement to the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon could surface in "48 hours."

"The chances of success this time are greater than any previous time," Berri, a close ally of anti-government Hezbollah, told Asharq al Awsat newspaper, adding that a settlement "might appear within 48 hours."

He disclosed that the settlement would cover "all the controversial issues," including the creation of an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri in 2005 and the formation of a national unity government, a key demand by Hezbollah.

But Berri failed to give the details of the settlement.

The Hezbollah-led opposition has been camping outside the Lebanese government headquarters in downtown Beirut since Dec. 1 in a bid to topple Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's government and form a national unity cabinet that would give them veto power.

Source: Xinhua