Lebanese Army Begins to Restore Order

Too little, too late. Hizbollah showed that it may overrun the capital at any time and may use that fact in the future as a threat against the government. Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's army stepped up patrols on Tuesday as part of a drive to restore order after a week of fighting between Hezbollah fighters and pro-government gunmen.

Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Muslim movement backed by Iran and Syria, and its opposition allies have routed supporters of the Sunni-led government in Beirut and hills to the east in fighting that has pushed Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.

Wary of fragmenting its own ranks, the army has stayed neutral in the conflict, which has killed 81 people, wounded 250 and raised Arab and international concern over Lebanon's future.

Police said 62 dead had been registered, but sources said they recognized the actual figure was likely to be higher.

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The army command announced on Monday night it would work to end all armed presence in cities and villages from 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) and authorized troops to use force if necessary.

It gave no further details but a security source said the army's orders were to arrest gunmen on the streets, take over armed positions and seize suspected arms depots.

The initiative was not seen as a challenge to Hezbollah and may have been coordinated with the group, which perhaps has an interest in showing the army in control before Arab mediators arrive in Beirut on Wednesday, political analysts said.

TRUCE HOLDS IN MOUNTAINS

Troops took over more positions held by Druze forces loyal to pro-government leader Walid Jumblatt, whose mountain fiefdom east of Beirut was attacked by Hezbollah on Sunday.

"The security situation in the mountain is stable after the army move," said Akram Shuhayeb, a lawmaker and Jumblatt aide.

But in the hill resort town of Aley, a grocer named Wassim Timani, who is loyal to Jumblatt, was not so sure.

"The army's presence here is only for show. It won't be able to do anything if the truce is violated," he told Reuters. "We have shown it all respect but we will not hand over our guns."

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