Aley, Lebanon - A cautious calm prevailed Monday across the areas of Mount Lebanon which witnessed heavy fighting the day before between followers loyal to anti-Syrian Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt and the opposition led by Hezbollah.
The streets of the area of Mount Lebanon which lies under the control of Jumblatt's followers witnessed sporadic fighting overnight, but the situation returned to cautious calm early Monday after Lebanese army troops deployed in the tense areas.
According to hospital sources in the area, more than 10 people were killed and around 36 wounded in the clashes between Hezbollah militants and Jumblatt's followers in the areas of Choufayet, Aitat and Kayfoun.
The fighting overnight spread to the Chouf mountains, 45 kilometres south-east of Beirut, where Jumblatt hails from.
According to sources close to Jumblatt, Hezbollah militants clashed with the Druze fighters in the area of Jabal al-Barouk.
Hospital sources in the area told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that at least seven people were wounded in the Barouk area.
Lebanese security sources said the Chouf mountains were on high alert following overnight fighting between Jumblat's gunmen and the opposition in Barouk.
Meanwhile in Beirut, militants loyal to the Syrian national party clashed with members of the Sunni Future Movemnet, led by majority leader Saad Hariri, in the streets of Hamra in the capital shortly before dawn.
Two cameramen working for the Doha-based al-Jazeera channel were slightly wounded while covering the clashes.
A source in the Lebanese government told dpa that an Arab League delegation, headed by Secretary General Amr Mussa, was scheduled to arrive in Beirut in the coming 48 hours.
'Preparations are under way to prepare a military airport in Quoliat, east Lebanon, to receive the plane carrying the delegation and also to be used to evacuate foreign nationals from the country,' a Lebanese security official told dpa.
The government source added that negotiations were under way to hold a cabinet meeting either Monday or Tuesday to discuss the latest decision taken by the government against Hezbollah last week.
The Lebanese cabinet adopted a decision on May 6 to sack the head of security at Beirut International Airport, Colonel Wafik Choukair, who is close to Hezbollah, and probe a communication network setup by Hezbollah.
The decision ignited a deep row between the Western-backed government and the opposition, led by Hezbollah, which led to the clashes.
Lebanon's political crisis, which first erupted in November 2006 when six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet, has left the country without a president since November, when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down.
juhaMay 15th, 2008 - 03:36:29
who runs Lebanon....the goverment of Lebanon or the Hezzbollah...hmmmmm....no one runs Lebanon, its still ruled by small feidoms(or is theifdoms). Hezzbollah want war with Israel at the behest of Iran(forever their humble servietes, wipe once then flush). Sadly the average people want Lebanon to be a becon for an enlightened life style, but once you mix religion mumbo jumbo into the goverment mix, all bets are off.
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