Abbas Pledges from Beirut to Obey Lebanon's Decision to Disarm Palestinians

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he will abide by any decision that the Lebanese government takes concerning the disarmament of Palestinians living across refugee camps in Lebanon.

"We are guests in Lebanon, temporary guests, and we are subject to Lebanese laws just like everybody else in Lebanon," Abbas said after talks with President Emile Lahoud.

Abbas arrived in Beirut Friday from Damascus where he met with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Abbas also held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Premier Najib Mikati.

During his visit to Lebanon Abbas is widely expected to discuss the issue of disarming Palestinians living in the country as demanded by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls on Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias to give up their weapons.

However Abbas said he did not raise the matter with Lahoud.

"Resolution 1559 concerns the Lebanese government and people, and we are with them in any decision they take concerning implementation of this resolution," he told reporters after their meeting.

Visiting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Elizabeth Dibble, reiterated the need for Palestinian groups to disarm, but said the Palestinian presence in Lebanon is a final status question.

"I know that this issue is a very sensitive one here in Lebanon. The issue of final status has yet to be determined between Israel and the Palestinians, and this is all tied up with that," she told Voice of Lebanon radio station.

Abbas also thanked the Lebanese government for the recent easing of labor restrictions for Palestinians born in Lebanon. A decree issued last month by Lebanon's labor minister relaxed rules denying Palestinian refugees living in the country since the creation of Israel the right to work in most jobs, allowing them to work in a range of private-sector jobs.

"We are very grateful for the Lebanese government for this great brotherly measure," Abbas said.

Abbas said it was up to the Lebanese government to decide on an appropriate time for opening a Palestinian embassy in Beirut.

Abbas promised Assad on Thursday that he would continue to coordinate future moves for establishing a peace settlement in the Middle East. He also met with leaders of Damascus-based radical Palestinian factions, including Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal.(AP)