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Army move to end Tripoli violence | Army move to end Tripoli violence |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Lebanese troops have deployed in the northern city of Tripoli to end fierce fighting between Hezbollah sympathisers and supporters of the government. | Lebanese troops have deployed in the northern city of Tripoli to end fierce fighting between Hezbollah sympathisers and supporters of the government. |
Thousands fled their homes as several people were reportedly killed in heavy exchanges of machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades. | Thousands fled their homes as several people were reportedly killed in heavy exchanges of machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades. |
While the capital seemed calm after four days of street battles killed 38 people, clashes spread east of Beirut. | |
The violence has triggered fears of a return to Lebanon's 15-year civil war. | |
In a Druze stronghold east of Beirut on Sunday, pro-government gunmen fought running battles with militants allied to the Hezbollah-led opposition. | |
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt called for calm, saying the fighting threatened peace in Lebanon and calling on his main Druze opponent to negotiate an end to the violence. | |
"I tell my supporters that civil peace, coexistence and stopping war and destruction are more important than any other consideration," Mr Jumblatt told the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation. | |
Roads closed | |
On Saturday, Hezbollah agreed to pull its fighters off the streets of Muslim western Beirut after the army overturned government measures aimed at curbing the group. | On Saturday, Hezbollah agreed to pull its fighters off the streets of Muslim western Beirut after the army overturned government measures aimed at curbing the group. |
But many roads remain blocked, including the airport road, as the Iranian-backed Shia group continues its campaign of civil disobedience. | But many roads remain blocked, including the airport road, as the Iranian-backed Shia group continues its campaign of civil disobedience. |
Arab foreign ministers are currently holding an emergency meeting on the crisis in the Egyptian capital Cairo. | Arab foreign ministers are currently holding an emergency meeting on the crisis in the Egyptian capital Cairo. |
In Tripoli, Sunni supporters of the Western-backed government have reportedly been fighting members of an Alawite sect loyal to Hezbollah. | In Tripoli, Sunni supporters of the Western-backed government have reportedly been fighting members of an Alawite sect loyal to Hezbollah. |
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Fierce street battles raged overnight in northern Lebanon | Fierce street battles raged overnight in northern Lebanon |
About 7,000 people have fled from the city's Bab al-Tebbaneh district, which marks the front line, reports said. | About 7,000 people have fled from the city's Bab al-Tebbaneh district, which marks the front line, reports said. |
Earlier, pro-government demonstrators burned the offices of the pro-Syrian Baath Party. | Earlier, pro-government demonstrators burned the offices of the pro-Syrian Baath Party. |
They stamped on posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. | They stamped on posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. |
They could also be seen throwing furniture and files from the Baath offices and a local opposition politician's office. | They could also be seen throwing furniture and files from the Baath offices and a local opposition politician's office. |
Face-saving initiative | Face-saving initiative |
The confrontation in Beirut eased off after the army offered a face-saving compromise that allowed the government to back down from two controversial decisions. | The confrontation in Beirut eased off after the army offered a face-saving compromise that allowed the government to back down from two controversial decisions. |
High stakes of Lebanon's crisisIn pictures: Battle for BeirutSend us your comments | High stakes of Lebanon's crisisIn pictures: Battle for BeirutSend us your comments |
The government had moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut airport for alleged sympathies with the guerrillas. | The government had moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut airport for alleged sympathies with the guerrillas. |
The army has essentially shelved both measures after they triggered a devastating Hezbollah onslaught, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut. | The army has essentially shelved both measures after they triggered a devastating Hezbollah onslaught, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut. |
Managing to retain its unity and the respect of both sides, the army has emerged as the arbiter in the current crisis, our correspondent says. | Managing to retain its unity and the respect of both sides, the army has emerged as the arbiter in the current crisis, our correspondent says. |
If all goes well, the army initiative should restore calm on the streets and see the international airport reopen. | If all goes well, the army initiative should restore calm on the streets and see the international airport reopen. |
While it does not address the fundamental political deadlock underlying the eruption of violence, it has created a problem-solving mechanism that may help movement in that direction. | While it does not address the fundamental political deadlock underlying the eruption of violence, it has created a problem-solving mechanism that may help movement in that direction. |
Our correspondent notes that all parties agree that the army commander, Gen Michel Suleiman, should be Lebanon's next president. | Our correspondent notes that all parties agree that the army commander, Gen Michel Suleiman, should be Lebanon's next president. |