Heavy Fighting Erupts Again in Northern Lebanon
By VOA News
12 May 2008
Lebanese security officials say heavy fighting has erupted for a second time in the northern port city of Tripoli between supporters of the Western-backed government and pro-Hezbollah militants.
Monday's clashes follow fierce battles Sunday in the mountains overlooking Beirut between supporters of pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and opposition fighters from the Shi'ite group Hezbollah and a rival Druze sect.
At least 11 people were killed in Sunday's fighting in the mountainous Aley region before a cease-fire went into effect. The death toll in five days of unrest across Lebanon is now at least 58, with scores wounded.
Meanwhile, a precarious calm prevailed in the capital, Beirut, as rival leaders prepared for talks with a high-level Arab League delegation set to arrive in the city by Tuesday.
Hezbollah gunmen and their allies withdrew from the streets in city's western section Sunday and turned over the area to Lebanese troops. But some roadblocks set up by Hezbollah remained in place, forcing Beirut's airport to remain closed.
Hezbollah pulled back its fighters in Beirut after Lebanon's military said it would reverse the government's dismissal of a Hezbollah-backed security official at Beirut airport. The military also advised the government to scrap its plan to investigate Hezbollah's phone network in Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said Sunday that his Cabinet will meet soon to decide whether to go along with the military's proposals.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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