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Fighting spreads east of Beirut | Fighting spreads east of Beirut |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fighting between rival militias in Lebanon has spread to the mainly Druze mountains just south of Beirut. | Fighting between rival militias in Lebanon has spread to the mainly Druze mountains just south of Beirut. |
Hezbollah and its anti-government allies, using heavy weapons and small arms, attacked areas held by followers of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. | Hezbollah and its anti-government allies, using heavy weapons and small arms, attacked areas held by followers of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. |
After several hours of fighting, the army was deployed in the area and a ceasefire announced. | After several hours of fighting, the army was deployed in the area and a ceasefire announced. |
The latest violence followed battles in Beirut and in Lebanon's second city, Tripoli, in the north. | The latest violence followed battles in Beirut and in Lebanon's second city, Tripoli, in the north. |
It is the latest phase in the campaign, spearheaded by Hezbollah, to crush the pillars of support for the government, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut. | It is the latest phase in the campaign, spearheaded by Hezbollah, to crush the pillars of support for the government, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut. |
The violence has triggered fears of a return to Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. | The violence has triggered fears of a return to Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. |
Druze appeal | Druze appeal |
In the mountainous Druze stronghold east of Beirut on Sunday, gunmen supporting the Western-backed government clashed with militants allied to the Hezbollah-led opposition. | In the mountainous Druze stronghold east of Beirut on Sunday, gunmen supporting the Western-backed government clashed with militants allied to the Hezbollah-led opposition. |
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The BBC's Jeremy Bowen runs for cover as shots are fired at him and his crew | |
Pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt appealed for calm, calling on his main Druze opponent - the Hezbollah-allied Talal Arslan - to negotiate an end to the violence and allow Lebanon's army to deploy throughout the hills. | Pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt appealed for calm, calling on his main Druze opponent - the Hezbollah-allied Talal Arslan - to negotiate an end to the violence and allow Lebanon's army to deploy throughout the hills. |
"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. | "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. |
Earlier this week, Hezbollah fighters defeated pro-government forces in western Beirut. | Earlier this week, Hezbollah fighters defeated pro-government forces in western Beirut. |
On Saturday Hezbollah agreed to pull out its fighters after the army overturned government measures aimed at curbing the group. | On Saturday Hezbollah agreed to pull out its fighters 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. |
Burning buildings | Burning buildings |
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 government have reportedly been fighting members of an Alawite sect loyal to Hezbollah with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. | In Tripoli, Sunni supporters of the government have reportedly been fighting members of an Alawite sect loyal to Hezbollah with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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 army has essentially shelved both measures after they triggered a devastating Hezbollah onslaught. |
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. |
For the past 16 months, Lebanon has locked in political stalemate between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government. | For the past 16 months, Lebanon has locked in political stalemate between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government. |
The country has been without a president since late 2007, although there is general consensus that the head of the army, Gen Michel Sleiman, would make the best compromise candidate. | The country has been without a president since late 2007, although there is general consensus that the head of the army, Gen Michel Sleiman, would make the best compromise candidate. |