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Arabs push for Lebanon dialogue Lebanon revokes Hezbollah curbs
(about 11 hours later)
The Arab League has sent a delegation to Lebanon to mediate between warring supporters and opponents of the pro-western government. The Lebanese government has cancelled measures against the Shia movement Hezbollah, that triggered six days of clashes between political factions.
The delegation, led by Qatar's PM with eight foreign ministers, is holding separate talks with each side. The measures, taken last week, included outlawing Hezbollah's phone network, and sacking an airport security chief with alleged links to the group.
The blockade of Beirut international airport, by the opposition movement Hezbollah, was partially lifted to allow the mediators to pass through. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had described the measures as a declaration of war.
Fighting erupted when the government outlawed Hezbollah's phone network. The government move comes as an Arab League delegation attempts to mediate.
Partisans of the embattled government and the opposition supported by Syria and Iran have fought in Beirut and other parts of the country over the past week. Lebanon's information minister Ghazi Aridi said the government was revoking the measures "in view of the higher national interest".
More than 60 people have been killed in the violence. At least 60 people were killed in the fighting between partisans of the western-backed government and the opposition, which is supported by Syria and Iran.
The situation is currently reported generally calm. After the announcement, celebratory gunfire was heard in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other Shia-dominated areas.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says, unless something goes wrong, the plan is for the government to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening to announce that it is annulling two controversial decisions it made early last week, which triggered the onslaught from Hezbollah. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says this is a humiliating climb-down by the Western-backed government.
The opposition would then reopen all roads, including the airport highway. Lifting the barricades
Then the two sides would enter a dialogue on the issues dividing them, although our correspondent says it is not yet clear where those talks will be held and who will chair them. An Arab League delegation is in Lebanon to mediate between the supporters and opponents of the government.
The delegation, which includes eight foreign ministers led by Qatar's prime minister, is holding separate talks with the two sides.
Following the government's decision, the opposition, led by Hezbollah, is expected to remove the barricades blocking key roads, including the ones leading to Beirut's international airport, which has been closed for a week.
Both sides are also expected to enter immediate dialogue on three outstanding issues - the election of a new president, the formation of a national unity government, and the reform of election law.
But our correspondent in Beirut says many Lebanese remain fearful that trouble could break out again at any moment if a solid political accommodation is not reached.