Loyal to Lebanon’s opposition on Thursday began removing roadblocks on the highway leading to Beirut‘s international airport, paving the way for commercial flights to resume, an AFP correspondent said. A MEA plane was set to arrive in the early evening, the first commercial flight since incoming and outgoing services were suspended a week ago. "An MEA flight from Paris is scheduled to arrive from Paris at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) and will depart to Larnaca, Cyprus at 8:30 pm," an airport official said. Crowds of people gathered on a bridge overhead to watch as tractors piled sand and rock into trucks as they dismantled the roadblocks."The airport is the pulse and life of the country," said Samih Karneb, 45. "At least now there won’t be any more shows of force. Each side knows their size." Abbas, 26, said that opening the airport motorway was "a beautiful sight," while a soldier standing nearby disagreed, telling AFP that "it shouldn’t have come to this in the first place. "Are we supposed to be happy about this?" he asked.
Arab mediators unveiled a deal on Thursday to defuse a long-running feud between rival political factions. Under the agreement announced after two days of intensive talks, the factions agreed to relaunch a dialogue to end a paralysing political crisis that boiled over into six days of deadly sectarian gunbattles last week. Under a six-point plan announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, the rivals agreed to go to Qatar on Friday to begin a national dialogue to try to elect a president and form a national unity government. "May 15 is normally a day we consider a sad one because of the memories it evokes," said Arab League chief Amr Mussa, referring to the creation of the Jewish state 60 years ago which is regarded as a "catastrophe" by Arabs. "But this May 15, 2008 was witness to an important step forward on the Lebanese scene because of the success towards relaunching dialogue and a return to normal life and an accord between all the parties." Under Thursday’s deal, the rivals agreed to launch a dialogue "to shore up the authority of the Lebanese state throughout the country," to refrain from using weapons to further political aims and to remove armed militants from the streets. It also called for the removal of all roadblocks that have paralysed air traffic and closed major highways, and for the rivals to refrain from using language that could incite violence. Hopes of a deal were raised after the government, in a major climbdown, on Wednesday cancelled controversial measures against Hezbollah that had triggered the latest unrest in the counbtry. Parliament is scheduled to convene on June 10 for its 20th attempt to elect a president.
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A handout picture shows Lebanese opposition leader Michel Aoun (R) speaking with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani during a meeting in Beirut on May 14.
Lebanese soldiers patrol in the northern city of Tripoli. Arab mediators announced on Thursday a deal to defuse the latest crisis that pushed Lebanon to the brink of civil war, with rival parties agreeing to relaunch dialogue.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
Hezbollah number two Sheikh Naim Qassem (L) listens to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani during a meeting in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Arab mediators unveiled a deal on Thursday to defuse a long-running feud between rival political factions that drove deeply divided Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.(AFP/Hassan Ammar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – 58 minutes ago
Lebanese soldiers secure a blocked street in Beirut. Arab mediators unveiled a deal on Thursday to defuse a long-running feud between rival political factions that drove deeply divided Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.(AFP/Anwar Amro)
Cars drive on the highway leading to the Rafiq Hariri airport in Beirut. Militants loyal to Lebanon‘s Hezbollah-on Thursday began removing roadblocks on the highway leading to Beirut’s international airport, paving the way for commercial flights to resume, an AFP correspondent said.(AFP/Hassan Ammar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Lebanese army soldiers secure the area as a bulldozer removes roadblocks along the highway leading to Beirut’s international airport paving the way for commercial flights to resume. Militants loyal to Lebanon‘s Hezbollah-led opposition began removing roadblocks on the highway leading to Beirut’s international airport, paving the way for commercial flights to resume, an AFP correspondent said.(AFP/Patrick Baz)
AFP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Lebanese girls sit on a deserted road in Beirut that is still blocked with sand baricades. Arab mediators unveiled a deal on Thursday to defuse a long-running feud between rival political factions that drove deeply divided Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.(AFP/Anwar Amro)
Lebanese soldiers secure the area as barricades are removed from the main airport road in Beirut May 15, 2008. An Arab League delegation said on Thursday it had concluded a deal with rival Lebanese leaders to end fighting in the country and called on them to attend talks to resolve a broader political crisis in Qatar on Friday. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 48 minutes ago
Lebanese people celebrate as barricades are removed from the main airport road in Beirut May 15, 2008. An Arab League delegation said on Thursday it had concluded a deal with rival Lebanese leaders to end fighting in the country and called on them to attend talks to resolve a broader political crisis in Qatar on Friday. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj (LEBANON)
Lebanese soldiers are in their armored personal carrier observing the reopening of the blocked highway leading to the international airport of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 15, 2008. The road was blocked by Hezbollah and other Shiite militiamen for nine days and it was opened Thursday after talks between Lebanese political leaders and high-powered Arab League delegation and after Lebanon’s government reversed key decisions that had triggered days of bloody conflict that have claimed more than 50 lives. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 16 minutes ago
Lebanese soldiers watch a tractor remove barricades in Beirut May 15, 2008. An Arab League delegation said on Thursday it had concluded a deal with rival Lebanese leaders to end fighting in the country and called on them to attend talks to resolve a broader political crisis in Qatar on Friday. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)
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