Aoun hands Barrack 'ideas for comprehensive solution', Berri hails 'constructive' talks

President Joseph Aoun handed U.S. envoy Tom Barrack "Lebanese ideas for a comprehensive solution" regarding Hezbollah’s arms during their meeting Monday at the Baabda Palace, the Presidency said, referring to Lebanon's official response to the U.S. paper submitted by Barrack on his earlier visit.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, said his own meeting with Barrack was constructive and "considered Lebanon's interest and sovereignty... and the demands of Hezbollah," according to a statement.

A Lebanese official told AFP on condition of anonymity that late last week, Beirut submitted an initial response to Washington, which requested modifications, then officials worked through the weekend to develop the final version.

Under the ceasefire deal reached in November, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli frontier.

Israel was to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, but has kept them deployed in five areas that it deemed strategic.

The truce was based on a United Nations Security Council resolution that says only Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers should bear arms in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.

Lebanese authorities say they have been dismantling Hezbollah's military infrastructure in the south near the Israeli border.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said Sunday that Israel needs to abide by the ceasefire agreement, "withdraw from the occupied territories, stop its aggression... release the prisoners" detained during last year's war, and that reconstruction in Lebanon must begin.

Only then "will we be ready for the second stage, which is to discuss the national security and defense strategy" which includes the issue of the group's disarmament, he added.