Arab foreign ministers attending an emergency meeting here at the headquarters of the Arab League (AL) on Lebanon crisis called on all Lebanese to cease fire and end acts of violence.
"The (AL) council (of Arab foreign ministers) appeals for an immediate halt of fighting and the withdrawal of gunmen (in Lebanon)," the pan-Arab bloc said in a statement read by Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ahmed ben Helli.
The Arab foreign ministers called on gunmen to withdraw from the streets to help Lebanon army maintain stability in the country, where sectarian fighting between anti and pro-government supporters recently left at least 24 people dead and dozens of others injured.
The AL council, which is still in session, has opted for launching this plea given the serious situation in Lebanon, ben Helli said.
Deadly clashes in Lebanon erupted Wednesday after the cabinet decided Tuesday to cease the private communication network of the leading opposition group of Hezbollah and remove airport security chief Gen. Wafik Shqaier for alleged links to Hezbollah.
On Saturday afternoon, Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition withdrew its armed presence from the capital Beirut after the army froze earlier cabinet decisions against the Shiite group.
However, heavy clashes between pro and anti-government supporters broke out Sunday in mountain areas in central Lebanon, local New TV reported.
Earlier in the day, Arab foreign ministers started the emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Lebanon, where sectarian fighting in the past several days cast more shadows on the prolonged political crisis in the country.
Source:Xinhua
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