Lebanon tense as Arab League tries to end crisis (AFP via Yahoo! News)  Lebanon was on a knife-edge on Monday after days of deadly sectarian battles that have driven the nation to the brink of civil war, as Arab ministers prepared to send in a team to try to end the crisis.

Arab delegation to try to negotiate settlement in Lebanon (USA Today) Arab foreign ministers to travel to Lebanon to broker a settlement after sectarian clashes left at least 38 people dead.

Lebanon tense after new clashes (BBC News) Hezbollah keeps up attacks on a pro-government leader in Lebanon as the Arab League prepares to send mediators.

Hezbollah fighters pile pressure on Lebanon rivals (Reuters via Yahoo! News)  Hezbollah gunmen battled supporters of the government on Sunday on the fifth day of a campaign by the Iranian-backed group that has dealt a severe blow to Washington's allies in Lebanon.

Arab FMs divided over Lebanon (AFP via Yahoo! News)  Arab foreign ministers holding crisis talks in Cairo were divided on Sunday over a draft resolution implicitly condemning Hezbollah for deadly clashes in Lebanon, delegates said.

Lebanon army deploys but clashes rage on (AFP via Yahoo! News)  The army deployed across much of Lebanon on Sunday after Hezbollah ceded control of west Beirut but clashes raged on in the north and in the Druze mountains as Arab foreign ministers held crisis talks.

Arab League appeals for end to Lebanon violence (AFP via Yahoo! News)  Arab foreign ministers holding crisis talks in Cairo on Sunday appealed for an end to violence in Lebanon after fierce clashes erupted in mainly Druze areas southeast of Beirut.

Clashes in northern and eastern Lebanon, outside Beirut (AP via Yahoo! News)  Supporters of Lebanon's U.S.-backed government and opponents battled with rockets and machine guns in the mountains overlooking Beirut Sunday as clashes shifted to outside the capital.

Israel's Barak admits 'serious' concern over Lebanon crisis (AFP via Yahoo! News)  Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday called the situation in Lebanon "a serious development" following a series of deadly clashes between government forces and Hezbollah militants, backed by Israel's arch-foe Iran.

Arab League holds Lebanon crisis talks without Syrian FM (AFP via Yahoo! News)  Arab foreign ministers were holding talks on the Lebanon crisis on Sunday in the absence of Syria's top diplomat whose country has been blamed for the troubles of its smaller neighbour.

Arab Ministers Heading to Lebanon in Bid to End Crisis as Unrest Rages On Uneasy calm prevailed over Lebanon as army soldiers were deployed en masse Monday to areas outside Beirut...

Opposition Considers Taking 'Goodwill Measures'! Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he was still awaiting a response from Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's...

What Made U.S. Warship Return to Mediterranean? The Lebanese daily As-Safir, which is close to the opposition, questioned on Monday whether the return...

Death Toll from Lebanon Violence Climbs to 47 A total of 47 people have been killed in five days of violence across Lebanon between government and...

Battles Shift to Mount Lebanon, Moussa Returns to Beirut Government supporters and opponents battled with rockets and machine guns across Mount Lebanon Sunday...

Arab League Sending Delegation to Beirut to Help End Crisis Arab foreign ministers have said after crisis talks in Cairo that they will dispatch a high-level delegation...

U.S. Warship Back to Mediterranean Waters A U.S. warship, which was deployed off Lebanon in February amid concern over Beirut's political crisis,...

Arab FMs Divided over Lebanon Arab foreign ministers holding crisis talks in Cairo were divided on Sunday over a draft resolution...

Report: Italy's Defense Minister Heading to Lebanon Italy's new Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa is to visit Italian U.N. peacekeeping troops in Lebanon...

Lebanon Death Toll Rises to 42 Five days of violence across Lebanon between government and opposition supporters has left 42 people...

Army Takes Control of North Lebanon, Opposition Ends Beirut Takeover Lebanese troops took control of north Lebanon on Sunday after fierce overnight battles between rival...

Arab League Appeals for End to Lebanon Violence Arab foreign ministers holding crisis talks in Cairo on Sunday appealed for an end to violence in Lebanon...

Israel's Barak Raises 'Serious' Concern about Lebanon Crisis Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday called the situation in Lebanon 'serious' after deadly...

Israeli Jets Violate Lebanese Skies Israeli jets on Sunday overflew southern Lebanon in violation of the country's airspace, a security...

Government Willing to Facilitate Suleiman's Task Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government was reportedly ready to facilitate the mission of Army Commander...

Israel Fears Iran will Have Border with Jewish State Because of Hizbullah A senior Israeli official expressed concern on Sunday about the recent violence in Lebanon, fearing...

Army Takes Over Controversial Government Decisions, Calls for Withdrawal of Gunmen The Lebanese Army command has decided to maintain Brig. Wafiq Shoqeir commander of airport security...

U.S.: Long-term Solution Requires Change in Hizbullah's Role The White House has welcomed steps to defuse the deadly unrest in Lebanon but cautioned that any long-term...

Jumblat For Compromise that Prevents Factional Violence Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has said he accepts a compromise with the Hizbullah-led...

Saniora: State Would Not Fall to Those Who Have Carried Out 'Armed Coup' Premier Fouad Saniora has reassured the Lebanese that their state would not fall under the control of...

Hassan Khalil: Opposition to Withdraw Gunmen, Maintain Disobedience AMAL MP Ali Hassan Khalil has said the Hizbullah-led opposition would withdraw its gunmen from Beirut...

Uneasy Calm After Hizbullah Seizes Control of West Beirut An uneasy calm settled over west Beirut on Saturday, a day after Hizbullah gunmen seized control of...

Syria Undecided About Attending Arab Meeting Over Lebanon Syria, which has been accused by the United States of fuelling violence in Lebanon, is undecided about...

U.N. Chief Urges Restraint U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon called on rival forces to show restraint in Lebanon and peacefully resolve their...

Hizbullah Controls Beirut, March 14 Says 'Violence Will Not Terrorize Us' Hizbullah gunmen seized control of key parts of Beirut from Sunnis loyal to the U.S.-backed government...

Sfeir Appeals for Calm, Return to Dialogue Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, who is currently on a visit to South Africa, has urged the Lebanese...

U.S. Says Syria, Iran behind Violence Amid Consultations About Measures to Hold Hizbullah Accountable The Bush administration has accused Iran and Syria of fueling violence in Lebanon by inciting Hizbullah...

France Plans for Possible Lebanon Evacuation, Kouchner Backs Saniora France is creating a plan to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon in case the country's sectarian violence...

Hizbullah Silenced the 'Future' Militants of the Lebanese Shiite Hizbullah movement on Friday forced the shutdown of all media operations...

Arabs FMs to Meet Amid Fear over Iran Influence in Lebanon Arab foreign ministers are to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday on the Lebanon crisis amid fears about...

Arab foreign ministers split over whom to blame for crisis  Arab foreign ministers holding crisis talks in Cairo on Sunday were divided over a draft resolution that would implicitly condemn Hizbullah for deadly clashes in Lebanon, delegates said. The draft resolution put before the ministers underlined the Arab League's "rejection of the use of armed violence to achieve political goals outside.

Day 5: Lebanese dare to hope worst is over  The Lebanese Army deployed heavily in the Aley district southeast of Beirut late Sunday following fierce clashes between gunmen loyal to Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt and fighters from Amal and Hizbullah, leaving eight people dead. The army was eventually successful in ending most of the clashes.

Barak leads chorus of Israeli worries over unstable situation in Lebanon  Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday called the situation in Lebanon "serious" after deadly clashes between pro-government and opposition forces, some of which are backed by Israel's arch-foe, Iran. "Hizbullah's taking of control [in western Beirut] is a serious development," Barak said during the weekly cabinet meeting, public radio reported.

US welcomes moves to calm unrest but says view of Hizbullah 'unchanged'  The White House on Saturday welcomed steps to defuse the deadly unrest in Lebanon but argued that any long-term resolution required a change in the role Hizbullah plays there."I think that first of all we want to see an end to the violence against the Lebanese people, I think we're beginning to see some of that," said.

US Embassy reassures citizens it hasn't closed shop  The US Embassy issued a statement Saturday saying it remained open for business. However, it noted a change in consular services. "As of Monday, May 12, 2008, nonimmigrant visa processing has been temporarily suspended except under special circumstances," the statement said.

Salloukh laments 'unfortunate situation'  Resigned Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh denounced on Sunday the "unfortunate situation" in Lebanon, which he said was due to the deepening divide between the different Lebanese parties which had pushed the country away from potential peaceful coexistence. Salloukh warned that expanding the crisis or making unilateral decisions.

Bahia Hariri stresses coexistence, civil peace  MP Bahia Hariri, sister of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, on Sunday emphasized the need to remember the assassinated premier's plan for Lebanon. "The project of the Rafik Hariri offices was the school of co-existence and civil peace, acceptance of others and love," she said.

Syrian daily: Hizbullah foiled US-planned coup  Syrian official daily Al-Baath said on Sunday that Hizbullah had foiled a US-planned coup to seize control of Lebanon during the deadly gun battles which have recently rocked the country. "The Americans launched a pre-emptive strike against opposition nationalist forces, starting with the [Hizbullah] resistance, and attempted.

Some countries evacuate nationals after internal armed conflict returns to Lebanon  Embassies and foreign ministries of countries with significant expatriate populations in Lebanon continue to draw up or execute plans to evacuate citizens who have remained in the country since the onset of clashes Tuesday in Beirut. An official with the UAE Embassy told Gulf News on Saturday that everything possible was being done to evacuate Emiratis still in the country.

Sfeir urges rival leaders to engage in dialogue  Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said on Sunday that recent clashes in Lebanon between opposition and pro-government forces served foreign agendas. "We urge all Lebanese groups to sit at at the dialogue table and negotiate peacefully," said Sfeir, who is currently in a visit to South Africa.

Lebanon's military deserves national gratitude  Once again, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have proved one of Lebanon's most valuable political assets in the past few days. All Lebanese should therefore be concerned at criticisms of the military's role, for these only undermine the one national institution that still enjoys broad public support.

Fresh violence halts Beirut's commercial activity  Most business activities in Beirut came to a standstill on Friday as opposition gunmen took control of neighborhoods in West Beirut after two days of fighting. Many businesses remained closed, amid fears that fighting could erupt again. Few citizens ventured out of their homes in the early morning hours to either move to safer areas.

Journalists speak out against targeting of Future media outlets  Hundreds of journalists, columnists and interested citizens gathered over the weekend to focus attention on protecting press freedom in Lebanon and to condemn the burning of the Future Movement's media conglomerate offices by opposition gunmen during Friday clashes between feuding Lebanese factions.

Lebanese rugby squad hammers Russia 48-0 in World Cup qualifier  Lebanon ensured Friday's mouthwatering final Group 1 World Cup qualifier against Ireland will be a winner-takes-all blockbuster after beating Russia 48-0 in bitterly cold conditions to the north west of Moscow on Sunday. In what were described as "the worst conditions Lebanon have ever played in," according to center Hassan Saleh.

News in Brief Published on 11/01/2007  News in Brief Published on 11/01/2007

Female driving instructor leaves gender bias in her dust  "She is the most courageous driver," and "there is not any difference between her and male drivers," is how people have described Wafaa Othman, the first female driving tutor in Beirut. "I don't know why women are accused of being ignorant of traffic laws and weak in driving their vehicles," Othman, who has been a driving instructor for 25 years, told The Daily Star on Thursday.

Reception for Arab Economic Forum draws crowds in Achrafieh  More than 500 people came to the Villa Audi in Achrafieh last Thursday to attend a reception held on the occasion of the Arab Economic Forum. Among those in attendance were Raymond Audi, Mario Haddad and Yassin Jaber.