Beirut centre comes back to life

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Beirut's city centre, partly paralysed for 18 months by a sit-in staged by Lebanese opposition groups, is starting to come back to life.

Cleaning crews were out in force and restaurants, nightclubs and cafes prepared to open for business.

The tented encampment was removed within hours of Wednesday's agreement between feuding Lebanese factions.

Two weeks ago the crisis flared into the worst violence the country has seen since the civil war in 1990.

DOHA AGREEMENT Western-backed ruling majority to get 16 cabinet seats and choose prime ministerSyrian-backed opposition to get 11 cabinet seats and veto powerThree cabinet seats to be nominated by presidentThe use of weapons in internal conflicts is to be bannedOpposition protest camps in central Beirut are to be removed New law to divide country into smaller electoral districts <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7412543.stm">Q&A: Qatar deal</a> The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the agreement signed in the Qatari capital Doha has brought about a perceptible easing of tensions on the ground.

The camp set up by supporters of Hezbollah and its opposition allies occupied a sizable chunk of downtown Beirut.

The razor-wire barricades set up by the army to protect the government building have also now been removed.

For the smart shops and cafes of the reconstructed downtown district - which depend heavily on a climate of stability - it could not come too soon, our correspondent says.

"These shopkeepers count heavily on an influx of rich Arab visitors from the Gulf during the summer months," said a clothes shop owner.

"They lost that two summers ago because of Hezbollah's war with Israel. Now, they're hoping at least, that this summer can be salvaged by the new agreement."

The agreement has brought a surge of hope and confidence which has been felt in many areas, including a burst of activity on the financial markets, with some shares jumping sharply.

<a class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY</a> A great agreement achieved for Lebanon; hopefully the beginning of new eraFaysal, USA<a class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4823&edition=2&ttl=20080522110341">Send us your comments</a>

Army commander Gen Michel Suleiman is expected to be elected president of the republic on Sunday, adding further momentum.

The job has been vacant since last November because of the political deadlock.

The agreement gives the Hezbollah-led opposition bloc enough seats in the cabinet for a veto.

The controversial issue of Hezbollah's arsenal is addressed. The deal states that "use of arms or violence is forbidden to settle political differences".