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Dubai: A cautious calm returned to the streets of Beirut on Saturday after Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition said it was ending its takeover of large swathes of the capital and pulling its lingering bands of gunmen out of the city.
But while tensions in the capital appeared to be defusing, violence spread to other parts of Lebanon.
At least 16 people were killed and 20 wounded when pro- and anti-government groups fought in a remote region of northern Lebanon, according to agency reports. More than 37 people have been killed in four days of clashes.
The opposition move came after the Lebanese army stepped in to resolve the crisis. "The opposition welcomes the army's decision and will proceed with the withdrawal of all its armed elements so that control of the capital is handed over to the military," opposition MP Ali Hassan Khalil of Hezbollah ally Amal was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Siniora appeal
Khalil, however, said the opposition would maintain a civil disobedience campaign against the Western-backed Fouad Siniora government until all its demands were met.
His comments followed an army announcement that it was overturning a government decision to reassign the head of airport security and to probe a communications network set up by Hezbollah. It also called for all armed fighters to withdraw from the streets.
The army said the head of airport security would remain in his post pending an investigation and that the army itself would look into the communications network set up by Hezbollah.
"Brigadier General Wafiq Shqeir will remain in his post until appropriate procedural measures have been taken after a probe," the statement said.
"As for the telecommunications network, the army will look into the issue in a manner that is not harmful to the public interest or the security of the resistance" against Israel, it said.
The army statement came shortly after Siniora made a televised address to the nation in which he accused Hezbollah of staging an armed coup and also urged the military to restore order.
Despite the easing of tensions, foreigners continued to leave the country by road to Syria, with the UAE, Turkey and Kuwait evacuating their citizens.
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