Lebanese troops patrolled Beirut on Sunday after Hizbullah gunmen pulled back from areas they had seized in gunbattles with supporters of the government. Hizbullah said on Saturday it was ending its armed presence in the capital after the army overturned government measures against the Shiite movement.
The four days of fighting, in which 37 people were killed, erupted after the government said it was taking action against Hizbullah's military communications network and sacked the head of security at Beirut airport, who was close to the group.
Hundreds of troops backed by armoured vehicles set up roadblocks and took up positions on streets in the mainly Muslim part of the capital.
While calm was restored in Beirut, clashes raged overnight in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest, between pro- and anti-government gunmen. According to Reuters, security sources said there had been a number of casualties. At least one woman was killed, Al Manar TV reported.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
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