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Hezbollah rocks eastern villages | Hezbollah rocks eastern villages |
(20 minutes later) | |
Control of several villages loyal to Lebanon's pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has been handed to the army after an attack by Hezbollah. | Control of several villages loyal to Lebanon's pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has been handed to the army after an attack by Hezbollah. |
The group's fighters used heavy weapons and small arms to attack the mountain settlements south-east of Beirut. | The group's fighters used heavy weapons and small arms to attack the mountain settlements south-east of Beirut. |
A truce was called after the Druze capitulated to avoid bloodshed, a BBC correspondent reports. | A truce was called after the Druze capitulated to avoid bloodshed, a BBC correspondent reports. |
It follows four days of fighting in which Hezbollah stormed west Beirut, raising fears of a return to civil war. | It follows four days of fighting in which Hezbollah stormed west Beirut, raising fears of a return to civil war. |
About 40 people have died in total in the clashes, which pitch the Syrian-backed Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah and its allies against the governing Western-backed Sunni, Christian and Druze alliance. | |
Beirut was quiet on Sunday, after control of areas seized by Hezbollah was handed to the Lebanese army, but clashes took place overnight in Lebanon's second city, Tripoli. | Beirut was quiet on Sunday, after control of areas seized by Hezbollah was handed to the Lebanese army, but clashes took place overnight in Lebanon's second city, Tripoli. |
Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo have urged an immediate halt to the fighting in Lebanon and agreed to send a ministerial delegation to Beirut to try to mediate an end to the crisis. | Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo have urged an immediate halt to the fighting in Lebanon and agreed to send a ministerial delegation to Beirut to try to mediate an end to the crisis. |
Lebanon's problems are part of a much bigger struggle, which is why they are so dangerous for the Middle East, says BBC Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen, who is in the country. | Lebanon's problems are part of a much bigger struggle, which is why they are so dangerous for the Middle East, says BBC Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen, who is in the country. |
Druze appeal | Druze appeal |
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut reports that Sunday's battle began in earnest after some skirmishing and provocations, with a string of Druze villages caught in a barrage of fire. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut reports that Sunday's battle began in earnest after some skirmishing and provocations, with a string of Druze villages caught in a barrage of fire. |
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The BBC's Jeremy Bowen runs for cover as shots are fired at him and his crew | The BBC's Jeremy Bowen runs for cover as shots are fired at him and his crew |
Mr Jumblatt knew Hezbollah, by far the strongest power in the land, could easily storm his entire mountain enclave, so he asked a Druze rival allied to Hezbollah to broker a deal to hand the whole area over to the Lebanese army, he adds. | Mr Jumblatt knew Hezbollah, by far the strongest power in the land, could easily storm his entire mountain enclave, so he asked a Druze rival allied to Hezbollah to broker a deal to hand the whole area over to the Lebanese army, he adds. |
"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. |
A ceasefire was arranged, and it seems to be generally holding, our correspondent says. | A ceasefire was arranged, and it seems to be generally holding, our correspondent says. |
The army is also filling the vacuum in west Beirut since Hezbollah's withdrawal on Saturday. | The army is also filling the vacuum in west Beirut since Hezbollah's withdrawal on Saturday. |
Violence erupted in Beirut after the government moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut airport for alleged sympathies with Hezbollah. | Violence erupted in Beirut after the government moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut airport for alleged sympathies with Hezbollah. |
The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, called the move a "declaration of war". | The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, called the move a "declaration of war". |
Seen by many as neutral, the army has emerged as an arbiter | Seen by many as neutral, the army has emerged as an arbiter |
But the army, which correspondents say remains trusted by most of Lebanon's competing political factions, overturned both measures after Hezbollah gunmen seized control of swathes of the city. | But the army, which correspondents say remains trusted by most of Lebanon's competing political factions, overturned both measures after Hezbollah gunmen seized control of swathes of the city. |
On Sunday many roads in the capital remained blocked, including the airport road, as the Shia group continued a campaign of civil disobedience. | On Sunday many roads in the capital remained blocked, including the airport road, as the Shia group continued a campaign of civil disobedience. |
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. |
At least one person was killed over the weekend and thousands are believed to have fled their homes. | At least one person was killed over the weekend and thousands are believed to have fled their homes. |
Stalemate | Stalemate |
For the past 16 months, Lebanon has been 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 been locked in political stalemate between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government. |
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 country has been without a president since late 2007, although there is general consensus that the head of the army, Gen Michel Suleiman, 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 Suleiman, would make the best compromise candidate. |
The Arab League delegation agreed on in Cairo will be led by the Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem. | The Arab League delegation agreed on in Cairo will be led by the Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem. |
Ministers also decided to give what they describe as logistical support to the Lebanese army to help it maintain security. | Ministers also decided to give what they describe as logistical support to the Lebanese army to help it maintain security. |
The delegation's mediation mission will not be easy, the BBC's Heba Saleh reports. | The delegation's mediation mission will not be easy, the BBC's Heba Saleh reports. |
An existing Arab League initiative aimed at facilitating the election of a Lebanese president has been deadlocked for months and Syria, a key Hezbollah ally, stayed away from Sunday's meeting. | An existing Arab League initiative aimed at facilitating the election of a Lebanese president has been deadlocked for months and Syria, a key Hezbollah ally, stayed away from Sunday's meeting. |
The fighting in Lebanon is seen as a disaster by pro-Western Arab countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which are concerned about the influence of Hezbollah's other ally Iran, our correspondent adds. | The fighting in Lebanon is seen as a disaster by pro-Western Arab countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which are concerned about the influence of Hezbollah's other ally Iran, our correspondent adds. |
Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers. | Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers. |