By Aziz El-Kaissouni

CAIRO, May 11 (Reuters) - Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo on Sunday for emergency talks to try to find a solution to the most serious crisis in Lebanon since the 1975-90 civil war that has sparked five days of fighting.

At least 44 people have been killed and 128 wounded in the fighting when Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah briefly seized control of Beirut after the pro-Western government's decision to target its military communications network.

Tensions have eased in Beirut on Sunday after Hezbollah fighters pulled back from areas they had seized in the western half of the capital. But residents reported that at least two people had died in fresh clashes in northern Lebanon.

"It is true the Lebanese parties are capable of solving their problems but the phase they are currently going through foretells grave consequences, and the nation does not need a new break in its ranks," Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, whose country holds the League's rotating chair, said.

He told the opening session that political disagreements needed to be resolved peacefully "because at the end it is the Lebanese people who will pay the terrible price".

Lebanon has been in political deadlock for 18 months over opposition demands for a greater say in government.

An Arab League official in Cairo has said the foreign ministers would call for an immediate deal on forming a Lebanese national unity government and the election of army chief General Michel Suleiman as president.

The ministers, meeting in closed session, would also call for a team of "politicians, intellectuals and neutral parties" to work on drafting a new electoral law after the election of Suleiman, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, whose country is a main ally of Hezbollah, was not present at the meeting. Syria's delegation was chaired by its ambassador to the Arab League. Syria, which was forced to withdraw troops from Lebanon after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, would not favour a meeting that is likely to condemn the actions of Hezbollah.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both supporters of the Lebanese government, had called the meeting over the crisis.

"Maybe there are different views, and this is the reason for calling to hold an Arab foreign ministers meeting to discuss all the elements put forth to exit this crisis," Hesham Youssef, chief of staff for League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, said.

In remarks carried by Egyptian state news agency MENA, Youssef said that the Arab League wanted a "formula to ensure the integrity of the Lebanese people and the safety and security of Lebanon". (Writing by Cynthia Johnston; editing by Sami Aboudi)

AlertNet news is provided by