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BEIRUT - Leaders of Lebanon's U.S.-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition are in Qatar for their highest-level talks since the country's political crisis began 18 months ago.

They plan to focus on forming a national unity government and electing a president.

The talks were agreed to under a deal between feuding factions to end the worst violence since the country's 1975 to 1990 civil war.

The two sides will begin negotiating on Saturday.

A political standoff has paralyzed the country and left it without a president since Emil Lahoud's term ended last November.

A week ago, the standoff dissolved into violence when the government passed measures to rein in Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Hezbollah fighters overran neighbourhoods of west Beirut and clashes left 66 people dead and over 200 wounded.

"We are going to Doha ... to return, God willing, with an agreement that allows us as Lebanese to look forward, while benefiting from the lessons and bitter experiences of the past," state media quoted Prime Minister Fuad Saniora as saying before leaving Beirut for the tiny Gulf country of Qatar, which is hosting the talks.

The government delegation is headed by Saniora, who left with parliament majority leader Saad Hariri on Hariri's private plane, separately from the other leaders.