Arab League meets with Lebanese opponents to try to mediate in crisis

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A high-powered Arab League delegation mediated between Lebanese factions Wednesday to try to end street confrontations that have killed at least 54 people. No fighting was reported throughout the country but tensions lingered after Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hizbullah demonstrated its military power last week by seizing control of parts of Beirut in a showdown with the US-backed 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 Wednesday evening on whether revoke the two decisions that triggered days of fierce fighting between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.