Hezbollah Pulling Gunmen From Beirut

Political group wins concessions from neutral Lebanese army
By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff
Posted May 10, 2008 12:56 PM CDT
Hezbollah Pulling Gunmen From Beirut
Sunni supporters of majority leader Saad Hariri hold a picture of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.   (AP Photo)

Hezbollah began withdrawing gunmen today from Beirut after winning concessions from the Lebanese army to overturn the government measures that sparked days of fierce fighting. The army, a neutral player in the ongoing struggle between the insurgent political group and the Western-backed government, said it would reinstate Beirut airport’s security chief and would maintain Hezbollah’s military communications network, Reuters reports.

Despite the deal, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora remained defiant, saying, “Hezbollah must realize that force of arms will not scare us or make us retreat.” Thirty-seven people have been killed and at least 100 wounded in the 4 days since fighting erupted, and the US says it will work with foreign powers to punish “those responsible for the violence.” (More Lebanon stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X