Egypt and Saudi Arabia call for Arab meeting on Lebanon

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt and Saudi Arabia called on Arab foreign ministers on Friday to meet urgently in Cairo to discuss the political crisis in Lebanon.

The meeting could come in the next two days, an Egyptian spokesman said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement the meeting was aimed at stopping "the armed elements' domination of the Lebanese street".

Hezbollah gunmen took control of large areas of Beirut on Friday in a third day of fighting against forces loyal to the U.S.-backed coalition.

"Only parties which want Lebanon to stay in conflict would benefit from this situation," Aboul Gheit added.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman said earlier Egypt and Saudi Arabia had applied for an immediate meeting of the council of foreign ministers of the Arab League, and expected it to happen within the coming two days.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement the meeting would be held on Sunday in Cairo.

Arab League officials were not immediately available to confirm the date of the meeting but it said secretary-general, Amr Moussa, had cut short a visit to the United States and was back in Cairo on Friday to start consultations.

A Saudi Foreign Ministry official said earlier his country "called on all political factions to listen to the voice of wisdom and to place the country's interests above all other considerations", Saudi state television said.  Continued...