Fighting Erupts in Northern Lebanon While Beirut Remains Calm

Lebanese security officials say heavy clashes erupted overnight in northern Lebanon between pro-government and anti-government forces, while the capital, Beirut, remained calm.

The fighting in the port city of Tripoli was between Sunni supporters of the Western-backed government, and allies of the Shi’ite militant group Hezbollah.

At least one person was killed, bringing Lebanon’s death toll in five days of clashes to 38.

Officials say the situation in Tripoli calmed later as Lebanese troops began to move in.

Meanwhile, security is tight in Beirut after Hezbollah fighters pulled back from areas they had seized, easing the worst sectarian violence to hit Lebanon since its 1975 to 1990 civil war.

At the Vatican today, Pope Benedict urged the citizens of Lebanon to abandon the clashes before they cause irreparable damage to their country.

The 22-member Arab League is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Cario today on the Lebanese crisis.

Hezbollah agreed to withdraw after the army overturned the government’s decision to dismiss the Beirut Airport security chief for his alleged ties to the group.

Hezbollah also welcomed the army’s pledge to handle the group’s telecommunications network in a way that does not harm Hezbollah or the nation’s interest.

But the militant group warned it will maintain a “civil disobedience” campaign until its political demands are met. It did not specify those demands.

Lebanon’s government last week declared Hezbollah’s communications network illegal. Hezbollah said the measure was a declaration of war.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

by VOA News

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