Clashes resume in north Lebanon

Heavy fighting has broken out again in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli between opposition gunmen and government supporters, officials say. Overnight, at least 13 people were killed as Hezbollah attacked forces of the pro-government Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, in the mountains near Beirut. Clashes resume in north Lebanon The fighting in the Chouf mountains later died down after an agreement that the army would be deployed in the area. The Arab League is to send a delegation in an attempt to end the conflict. Its Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, said it wanted to save Lebanon. "What is going on in Lebanon is unacceptable. We are very worried about this," he said. "We might succeed and we might not, but we have to try." A date for the mission will be set after talks with the various Lebanese factions. The sectarian violence, which broke out when Hezbollah gunmen fought pro-government forces in Beirut last week, is the worst since the end of the long-running civil war in 1990. At least 47 people have been killed. The BBC says people are gripped by fear and wondering where the crisis goes from here. Until the armed clashes resumed in Tripoli on Monday afternoon, Lebanon had been largely quiet following a weekend of fighting in the northern port city and the Chouf mountains. The skirmishes in the Druze stronghold were amongst the most bitter of the past five days and involved heavy weaponry for the first time. Security officials have told the Reuters news agency that at least 36 people, including 14 Hezbollah fighters, were killed during Sunday. Eleven people were killed in the town of Chouweifat, officials told the Associated Press.

Clashes resume in north Lebanon

The fighting in the Chouf mountains later died down after an agreement that the army would be deployed in the area.

The Arab League is to send a delegation in an attempt to end the conflict.

Its Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, said it wanted to save Lebanon.

"What is going on in Lebanon is unacceptable. We are very worried about this," he said. "We might succeed and we might not, but we have to try."

A date for the mission will be set after talks with the various Lebanese factions.

The sectarian violence, which broke out when Hezbollah gunmen fought pro-government forces in Beirut last week, is the worst since the end of the long-running civil war in 1990.

At least 47 people have been killed.

The BBC says people are gripped by fear and wondering where the crisis goes from here.

Until the armed clashes resumed in Tripoli on Monday afternoon, Lebanon had been largely quiet following a weekend of fighting in the northern port city and the Chouf mountains.

The skirmishes in the Druze stronghold were amongst the most bitter of the past five days and involved heavy weaponry for the first time.

Security officials have told the Reuters news agency that at least 36 people, including 14 Hezbollah fighters, were killed during Sunday. Eleven people were killed in the town of Chouweifat, officials told the Associated Press.