Arab League mediators today announced a deal to end Lebanon's worst internal fighting since the civil war, after the US-supported government backed down in its conflict with Hizbullah.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani also summoned Lebanon's government and Hizbullah-led opposition to Qatar for talks to resolve a broader political showdown that has paralysed the country for 18 months.
"We declare an agreement sponsored by the Arab League to deal with the Lebanese crisis," Sheikh Hamad said. "The parties pledge to refrain from returning to the use of weapons or violence to realise political gains."
The political talks in Qatar, which start on Friday, would continue "until agreement is reached," he said.
As Sheikh Hamad announced the deal, television pictures showed mechanical diggers on the airport road removing roadblocks erected by Hizbullah supporters last week as part of a protest campaign against the government.
Less than an hour later an airliner from Lebanon's Middle East Airlines landed at the airport, the first commercial flight to the facility in a week.
At least 81 people were killed in the fighting, triggered by government decisions last week to ban the Iranian-backed Hizbullah's communications network and sack Beirut's airport security chief, who is close to Hizbullah.
Hizbullah said those moves were a declaration of war and briefly seized control of Muslim areas of the capital, dealing a severe blow to Washington's allies in the ruling coalition.
On Wednesday, the cabinet of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora cancelled the two measures, meeting one of Hizbullah's demands and easing tensions in the Lebanese capital. Hizbullah said the government's climbdown was a "natural way out" of the crisis.