Lebanon army moves to end crisis : Indybay

Saturday, May 10, 2008 : Lebanon's army has overturned two key government measures in an attempt to defuse tensions between the pro-western government and Shia group Hezbollah.

he army said the Hezbollah-allied head of security at Beirut airport should remain in his post and the group's phone network be maintained. A row over the two issues sparked violence which left at least 24 dead. Both sides have agreed to an army call to withdraw gunmen, but Hezbollah says it will continue "civil disobedience".

A Hezbollah statement said: "The Lebanese opposition will end all armed presence in Beirut so that the capital will be in the hands of the army."

§Violence flares in Lebanon

by Al Jazeera (reposted) Saturday May 10th, 2008 9:18 AM

Saturday, May 10, 2008 : Army overturns government's moves against Hezbollah and asks fighters to leave the streets.

At least 14 deaths have been reported after clashes erupted on Saturday in north Lebanon [AFP]

The Lebanese army has said that it is revoking measures taken by the government against Hezbollah, the Shia opposition group, and asked all armed fighters to withdraw from the streets of Beirut. The announcement came after a televised speech by Fouad Siniora, the prime minister, and against a backdrop of escalating violence beyond the capital.

In a statement on Saturday, the army also said that the airport security chief fired by the government for his links to Hezbollah will be reinstated.

The statement said the issue of Hezbollah's communications network will be handled by the army's Signal Corps.

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