Hizbollah battles Druze in Beirut

Shi'ites loyal to Lebanese opposition group Hizbollah battled Druze supporters of the ruling coalition east of Beirut yesterday, adding to the worst civil strife since the 1975-90 war.

The fighting in Aley, a town in the mountains overlooking Beirut, and nearby villages was the latest violence between followers of Hizbollah, a group backed by Syria and Iran, and supporters of the US-backed governing coalition. At least four people were killed and 12 wounded, bringing the number of dead in five days of fighting throughout Lebanon to 46. At least 132 people have been wounded.

Hizbollah and allied Druze fighters took control of several villages in the area, security sources said. A 6 p.m. ceasefire appeared to ease the fighting, witnesses said.

Black smoke rose from several villages as explosions and sound of gunfire echoed in the pine-covered hills and valleys of the picturesque area.

An 18-month-old political conflict between the opposition and governing coalition spilled into open warfare on Wednesday after the government decided to move against a military communications network operated by Hizbollah and sacked the head of security at Beirut airport, who is close to the group.

Hizbollah called the move a declaration of war, saying the network had played a crucial role in its 34-day war with Israel in 2006.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, whose followers were battling Hizbollah supporters in Aley, called on Talal Arsalan, a Druze leader allied to the Shi'ite group, to mediate an end to the fighting. "I tell my supporters that civil peace, coexistence and stopping war and destruction are more important than any other consideration," Mr Jumblatt told the pro-government LBC television station by telephone.

Mr Arsalan later appealed to Hizbollah to hold its fire and said he would contact the army command to deploy forces in the area. The fighting died down after the ceasefire as contacts took place to deploy the army to take over positions held by the pro-government supporters.

The latest clashes followed allegations by Hizbollah on Saturday that Jumblatt loyalists killed two of its members and held Mr Jumblatt responsible for the safe return of a third member who was missing.

Hizbollah seized much of west Beirut on Friday after its fighters routed supporters of the anti-Syrian ruling coalition. Lebanese troops patrolled Beirut yesterday after the group's fighters pulled back from areas they had taken.

Hizbollah agreed to withdraw its forces from Beirut after the Lebanese army overturned the government decisions. However, the Hizbollah-led opposition said it would maintain a campaign of civil disobedience until all its demands were met.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said his cabinet would meet soon to decide on Hizbollah's demand and the army's request that the government annul the decisions altogether.

In Beirut, hundreds of soldiers backed by armoured vehicles set up roadblocks and took up positions on the streets of the mainly Muslim part of the capital.

There were no gunmen in sight but youths maintained barricades on some crucial roads, ensuring Beirut's air and sea ports remained closed.

Hizbollah, a political group which has a guerilla army, said on Saturday it was ending its armed presence in Beirut after the army overturned the government decisions against it.

While tension eased in Beirut, there was little progress in efforts to resolve the political disputes.

Arab foreign minister ministers began an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss the crisis. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, whose country is an important ally of Hizbollah's, was not present.

Pope Benedict yesterday called for dialogue and an end to the violence.