Fresh fighting has been reported over night in mountains near Beirut as Hezbollah and forces of pro-government Druze leader of Walid Jumblatt clashed.

However, the fighting later died down after an agreement that the army would be deployed in the Shouf mountain area.

The opposition's campaign against the Western-backed government, which has left about 40 dead, has prompted the Arab League to send a delegation.

The BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut, says the country is in the grip of fear.

Truce

About 40 people have died in the clashes, which pitch the Syrian-backed Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah and its allies against the governing Western-backed Sunni, Christian and Druze alliance.

Violence erupted after the government moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut airport for alleged sympathies with Hezbollah.

Four days of fighting saw Hezbollah storm west Beirut, taking large parts of the city. Clashes ended when Hezbollah agreed to hand over the areas it had taken to the army.

The fighting then spread to the Shouf mountains and northern Tripoli.

Control of several mountain settlements south-east of Beirut loyal to Walid Jumblatt was handed to the army after an attack by Hezbollah on Sunday. A truce was called after the Druze capitulated to avoid bloodshed.

But reports from the area said that columns of Hezbollah fighters attacked late at night from the eastern Beqaa valley, on the other side of the mountains.

The army has begun deploying in those areas, which are reported to be generally quiet despite the tension.

Our correspondent says most Lebanese are wondering where the crisis goes from here.

US destroyer

Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo have urged an immediate halt to the fighting in Lebanon and agreed to send a ministerial delegation to Beirut to try to mediate an end to the crisis.

According to reports in some Lebanese papers, one proposal being discussed is the idea that the current Western-backed government should resign and had over to a military council.

The army has emerged as the only factor preventing a complete collapse, and it is generally agreed that its commander, Gen Michel Suleiman, should be the next president.

It has been reported also that the American guided missile destroyer the USS Cole has crossed back into the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Our correspondent says that prompted a warning from sources in the Hezbollah-led opposition that any hint of US intervention would lead the opposition to abandon the few red lines they have been observing in their campaign to undermine the government.

For the past 16 months, Lebanon has been locked in political stalemate between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government.

The Arab League delegation agreed on in Cairo will be led by Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem.

Ministers also decided to give what they describe as logistical support to the Lebanese army to help it maintain security.

An existing Arab League initiative aimed at facilitating the election of a Lebanese president has been deadlocked for months and Syria, a key Hezbollah ally, stayed away from Sunday's meeting.

Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers.

(BBC)

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