Press hails Lebanon militants' rout

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The press in Lebanon expresses delight tinged with scepticism at the Lebanese army's ejection of the Fatah al-Islam militant group from the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

Front-page headlines celebrate the militants' defeat, but one commentator fears it may only prove a temporary victory, while another warns that the army's success merely highlights the divisions among Lebanon's political class.

Commentators elsewhere in the region, however, voice the hope that the episode will mark the start of a dialogue between Lebanon's factions.

HEADLINE IN LEBANON'S AL-MUSTAQBAL

Lebanon scores a victory over the terrorists.

HEADLINE IN LEBANON'S AL-SAFIR

The army redeemed Lebanon, won on behalf of the Palestinians and prevented Lebanon from turning into another Iraq.

UMAR HABANJAR IN LEBANON'S AL-ANWAR

This is the final defeat of Fatah al-Islam, and a victory for both the national will and the state idea. However, there is no doubt that those who implanted Fatah al-Islam in Lebanon will try and do so again under some other guise.

EDITORIAL IN LEBANON'S THE DAILY STAR

This country's soldiers imposed their will on a ruthless and highly motivated enemy. The army demonstrated that it is competently led but poorly equipped. No objective appraisal of the performance turned in by Lebanon's political class can be nearly so kind. Wrapped up in their dance with mutual immolation, both the government and the opposition embarrassed themselves by contributing little of value to a lengthy and painful struggle.

EDITORIAL IN QATAR'S AL-RAYAH

The Lebanese army has managed to restore the military prowess that has been missing for a long time in Lebanon. Political leaders need to build on this with a resumption of national dialogue involving all factions and sects.

WALID NUWAYHID IN BAHRAIN'S AL-WASAT

There are many lessons to take from the Nahr al-Bared crisis, which distinguishes the episode from those other bitter conflicts that Lebanon has experienced in the past. Even though events on the ground at Nahr al-Bared are politically confused and incomplete, they should lay the foundations of a new vision for this small country.

YASIR AL-ZA'ATIRAH IN JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR

It is evident that those involved in the making of the Nahr al-Bared ordeal are still willing to bury its secrets under the debris of its houses. A real ordeal has befallen the camp and its people.

<A href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk">BBC Monitoring</A> selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.