BEIRUT, 15 May 2008 — A high-powered Arab League delegation mediated between Lebanese factions yesterday to try to end street confrontations that have killed at least 54 people.
No fighting was reported throughout the country but tensions lingered after Hezbollah demonstrated its military power last week by seizing control of parts of Beirut in a showdown with the government. It was the worst internal fighting since the end of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war.
A senior US military commander was also in the country meeting with Lebanese military leaders.
The Cabinet convened for a special session last evening on whether to revoke the two decisions that triggered days of fierce fighting between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.
Hezbollah has demanded the government reverse the decisions to sack an airport security chief for alleged ties to the Shiite group and to declare the militants’ private telephone network illegal.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said last week the decisions amounted to a declaration of war and sent his armed fighters into the streets for the first time since the civil war ended. A cease-fire largely halted the clashes on Monday.
Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority leader, said on Tuesday the two decisions that confronted Hezbollah should be revoked “to save Lebanon.” The Arab League delegation arrived yesterday with senior ministers of nine countries. They first met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is aligned with the opposition, and later had talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Siniora’s office described his talks with the delegation as “good and frank” but gave no more information.
The delegation flew into Beirut airport — which has been blockaded by Hezbollah for a week and which opened temporarily only for the Arab ministers.
Among those who received the ministers was airport security chief Maj. Gen. Wafiq Shukeir, who was at the center of the recent controversy.
The airport is located in the Hezbollah stronghold of south Beirut. Unarmed Hezbollah men were deployed along the edge of the airport highway ahead of the delegation’s arrival.
Bulldozers removed dirt mounds on the airport road to clear the path for the motorcade.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria were not represented in the delegation.
Acting chief of US Central Command, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, met yesterday with Lebanon’s army commander and defense minister in a visit the US Embassy in Beirut said “focused on the continued assistance” to the Lebanese military.
Syria, which has been accused by US and Lebanon’s anti-Syrian coalition of obstructing Parliament’s election of a president since November, said it supported Arab efforts to resolve the crisis and called for a national dialogue to reach an agreement.
But a Syrian official in Damascus said the crisis would not have happened “without incitement, patronage and funding” from abroad, and claimed the government decisions regarding Hezbollah were “pushed for by the Americans.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
In another sign of easing tensions, the main border crossing with Syria — closed by pro-government supporters in retaliation to Hezbollah’s closure of the airport road — was reopened yesterday. Bulldozers partly removed earth mounds and allowed motorists through.
